LIVE STATS
Baltimore, Md.-- UMBC baseball embarks on the 2020 campaign this weekend when the team travels to Charlotte for a weekend set with the 49ers. The Retrievers will have first-year head coach Liam Bowen leading the team, the fifth head coach in program history who has served as the recruiting coordinator and pitching coach the past nine years.
Charlotte Series Info:
What: UMBC Retrievers (0-0) at Charlotte 49ers (1-3)
Where: Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium - Charlotte, N.C.
When: Friday-Sunday, February 21-23 - Friday single game at 3 p.m., Saturday DH and Sunday single game at noon
How to Watch: Live stats at Charlotte49ers.com
Social Media: @umbcbaseball, @UMBCAthletics, #RetrieverNation, #AEBASE
Scouting the Retrievers:
-The Retrievers enter the 2020 season after a 21-33, 6-17 AE season a year ago that saw them miss out on the America East Tournament for the first time since 2014. UMBC will return a trio of position players and a pair of pitchers who had a big impact on the team a year ago.
-Christian Torres (Miami, Fla.), Blaze O'Saben (Warrenton, Va.) and Colin Casey (Ipswich, Mass.) return to the Retriever lineup after big seasons a year ago. Torres batted .286 last year with 11 doubles, four home runs, and 36 RBI. O'Saben and Casey batted .262 and .259 with Casey hitting a team-best six home runs.
-Cooper Adams (Potomac, Md./St. John's College) and Max Goron (Laurel, Md./Reservoir) return to lead a pitching staff that will be deeper and healthier than it has been the past couple of years. Adams had a 6.56 ERA in 48.0 innings a year ago, striking out 21. Goron finished 2019 with a 6.86 ERA in 40.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Scouting the 49ers:
-The 49ers come into the weekend series at 1-3 after dropping an 8-2 decision to Tennessee on Tuesday night. Charlotte opened the season losing two of three to VCU last weekend. The Vols scored a pair in the first two frames, capitalizing on a pair of 49er errors in the win.
-Dominic Pilolli and Carson Johnson lead the 49ers, both batting over .400. Pilolli is hitting .429 with six hits and one RBI, while Johnson is batting .412 with a team-high seven hits and three RBI. Craig Keuchel has the only home run for Charlotte in the third game of their VCU series.
All-Time Series:
-This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
On Deck:
-The Retrievers will return to the DMV to take on George Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 25. First pitch with the Colonials is set for 2:30 p.m. in Arlington, Va.
