SALISBURY - UMBC Baseball (6-6) dropped an 8-7 decision to Maryland Eastern Shore at Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex.

Sophomore third baseman Matt Ryan was the lone Retriever to collect multiple hits, as he went 2-for-4, with two runs scored and an RBI. UMBC put 20 runners on base, but stranded 11against ten different Hawk pitchers.

The first three Retrievers walked to start the game and freshman Leewood Molessa doubled home a pair. But Ian Diaz was thrown out at the plate and UMBC settled for two runs.

With UMBC leading, 3-1, into the bottom of the fourth, the Hawks scored a single run in that frame and added a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.

UMBC tied the game in the next half inning on a wild pitch and a bases-loaded hit batsman. But the hosts countered with another 3-run long ball in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-5 lead.

Catcher Tony Krueger and Ryan collected RBI singles in the seventh and eighth innings to trim the deficit to 8-7. But UMBC stranded a pair in the eighth and one more in the ninth to fall to 6-6 on the campaign.

In his first collegiate start, freshman Eddie Sargent allowed three earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. Classmate Sam Daniels did not allow a run and struck out two Hawks in UMES' final two at-bats.

UMBC opens up America East play on Friday (3:00 p.m.) as they host Maine in a weekend series.