Box Score BALTIMORE – Visiting Stony Brook (16-19, 11-5 America East) rallied with four unanswered runs in the final two innings and edged UMBC, 6-5, in the first of a three-game set at Alumni Field.
The Retrievers (15-21, 6-10 AE) grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and led throughout the contest until the Seawolves scored twice in the ninth inning to take their first lead.
UMBC loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but could not push any runs across.
UMBC freshman starting pitcher
Jayden Shertel went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs and four hits, walking two and fanning four and was in line for the win until the ninth.
Graduate student second baseman scored three of UMBC's five runs and collected two hits in four at-bats.
Ian Diaz and
Michael Cilio also recorded a pair of hits, and
Justin Taylor hit his second home run of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Retrievers scored three times before SBU pitcher Ben Fero retired a hitter in the first inning. Nicholson led off with double to left field and was driven home by a two-strike single by Ian Diaz to left. Taylor then blasted a two-run clout well over the left field fence to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.
- Shertel retired the first ten batters before allowing a solo home run to Evan Giordano in the fourth inning. He then allowed a one-out solo homer in the fifth as UMBC's lead was trimmed to 3-2.
- But the Retrievers added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to lead, 5-2. In the fifth, Taylor drove in his third run of the game as a one-out slow roller to first base scored Nicholson, who had singled and advanced to third on a double by Diaz to right center.
- Two innings later, UMBC loaded the bases on a pair of hit batsmen and a walk. Luke Johnson fouled off several tough pitches before hitting a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Nicholson.
- Stony Brook struck back quickly in the top of the eighth, scoring twice, including hitting their third solo home run of the game to cut the gap to 5-4. They tied the game and took the lead without benefit of a hit in the ninth. The tying run came home on a passed ball and the go-ahead tally crossed on a slow roller to third base.
The two teams will play a 2:00 p.m. contest on Saturday.
