Video Highlights:
Game 1 |
Game 2
BALTIMORE – UMBC swept a doubleheader from Niagara, leading most of the way to win the opener, 4-2, and coming from behind to take the nightcap, 7-4.
A pair of Retriever pitchers excelled in six-inning outings. In the opener, sophomore
Joe Pucek (Morristown, N.J.) started and threw a masterful game, going six strong innings, scattering five hits with three strikeouts. In the second game, freshman
Jayden Shertel (Mays Landing, N.J.) entered the game in the fourth inning and did not allow a Purple Eagle base hit over the final six frames.
HOW IT HAPPENED (G1) - UMBC 4, Niagara 2
- The Purple Eagles struck first, getting a run in their half of the inning.
- UMBC swiftly responded with a run in the bottom half. Senior second sacker Myles Nicholson (Hagerstown, Md.) led off the inning with a triple and was brought home on an Ian Diaz (Philadelphia, Pa.) sacrifice fly just two batters later.
- The Retrievers took the lead in the third on a lead-off solo home run from catcher Connor Kelly (Cumberland, Md.) to give the Retrievers a 2-1 advantage.
- That lead would extend to 4-1 with Diaz coming through again on a two-RBI single that plated Nicholson and Drew Roberts (Matthew, N.C.).
- Niagara would cut the deficit to 4-2 in the seventh, but Owen Hamilton (San Anselmo, Calif.) closed out the game for his first save of the year, giving UMBC the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED (G2) - UMBC 7, Niagara 4
- Niagara scored once in the second and added three runs in the third to take a 4-0 advantage.
- The Retrievers scored three runs on just one hit in the fourth. UMBC scored on a pair of wild pitches and catcher Tony Krueger (Appleton, Wisc.) drove in the third run with an RBI single.
- UMBC tied the game in the fifth, as Diaz walked with two outs and came all the way around to score after the NU right-fielder misplayed Luke Trythrall's (Poolesville, Md.) single.
- The Retrievers scored three times in the seventh inning. Nicholson singled with one out and stole his third base of the day. Junior center fielder Justin Taylor (Reston, Va.) stroked a base hit to right field to plate Nicholson. With two outs, Trythrall singled and both runners scored when sophomore Luke Johnson (Lewes, Del.) tripled down the right field line.
- Shertel was magnificent as the southpaw retired the final 10 Purple Eagles. He fanned six and only walked two batters to earn his first collegiate victory.
Nicholson now has nine stole bases in ten attempts through ten games.
UMBC (4-6) has taken the first three game of the series. The two teams are slated for a noon finale on Sunday.
