CHARLESTON – The defending CAA regular season champion College of Charleston Cougars evened the series with visiting UMBC, defeating the Retrievers, 9-2, at the Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point.

UMBC (1-2) veteran outfielders Christian Easley and Ian Diaz combined to bang out four of the squad's five hits.

Easley ripped Trey Pooser's first pitch of the game into the left center field gap for a leadoff triple. Diaz was hit by a pitch and Justin Taylor walked to load the bases for Tony Krueger. The senior catcher ripped a single to right field to score Easley. Second baseman Anthony Swenda hit the ball hard, but the Cougars turned the shot to second base into a 4-3 double play. Diaz scored on the play to give UMBC an early 2-0 lead.

UMBC sophomore starter Joe Pucek retired the Cougars in order in the first, but allowed a game-tying two-run home run in the second inning.

Easley led off the third with a double down the left field line and stole third base with two outs, but was stranded.

The hosts took the lead with a two-run fourth inning, but Pucek was able to set them down in order in the fifth.  

The Cougars added single runs in the sixth and seventh take a 6-2 lead.

Diaz doubled with one out in the eighth inning, but did not advance and the hosts tacked on three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Pucek fanned three and only walked one Cougar in five innings of work.

The two teams play the series decider on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Sophomore Nick Remy is the expected starter for UMBC.