BALTIMORE - UMBC scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie and pitchers Luke Johnson (Lewes, Del.) and Colton Bare (Sharpsburg, Md.) held visiting Niagara to five hits as the Retrievers defeated the Purple Eagles, 5-2, in the first game of a four-game series at Alumni Field.

The Retrievers (2-6) snapped a three-game slide with the victory.

Senior outfielder Ian Diaz (Philadelphia, Pa.) drove in the go-ahead run and senior designated hitter Logan Doran (Greenville, N.C.) delivered a two-out base hit for the two insurance markers in the seventh.
Johnson went the first six innings, fanning a career high nine batters and allowing one run. Bare gave up an unearned run in the seventh, but got the win, stranding five Purple Eagles in three innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UMBC broke through with a pair of runs in the third. A Myles Nicholson (Hagerstown, Md.) single to center plated Nolan Charlton (Atlantic City, N.J.) and Drew Roberts (Matthews, N.C.) came around on a double play ground out by Diaz.
• Niagara scored singles runs in the sixth and seventh innings to knot the score at 2-2. Bare fanned NU's Josh Marchese with the bases loaded to end NU's seventh-inning threat.
• Roberts led off the seventh with a single to right and advanced to second when Nicholson drew a walk. With one out, Diaz fought off a two-strike pitch, dumping a single into right field, plating Roberts and sending Nicholson to third base. With two outs, Doran hit a ball up the middle to send Nicholson and Diaz to the plate.
• Bare got a double play grounder to help retire Niagara in the eighth inning and faced four Purple Eagles to earn his first career victory.

NOTES

• Nicholson extended his season-opening hitting streak to eight… Roberts scored a pair of runs for UMBC… The two RBI were the first two of Doran's UMBC tenure.  

The two teams will play a twin-bill beginning at noon on Saturday.