BALTIMORE – UMBC junior right-hander Luke Johnson pitched his first career nine-inning complete-game shutout to give the Retrievers a 2-0 victory against the NJIT Highlanders in the series opener on Friday night at Alumni Field.
 
The Retrievers (12-13, 4-3 America East) scored the only two runs of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run double by catcher Tony Krueger, who finished 2-for-3 at the dish.
 
Johnson scattered three hits, walked three and fanned ten batter to improve to 3-1 on the season. He threw 103 pitches and faced 32 batters in the contest. It was the third time this season that Johnson has reached double-figures in punch outs.
 
UMBC did all of their damage in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior center fielder Justin Taylor walked on five pitches to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman first baseman Leewood Molessa reached on a fielder's choice, but Taylor was forced out at second. Junior designated hitter Luke Trythall struck out looking for the second out, but sophomore third baseman Matt Ryan drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Krueger then delivered an opposite field double down the left field line to score Molessa and Ryan with the only runs of the game.
 
NJIT (8-18, 3-4 AE) had their only scoring opportunity in the top of the third as they put runners on first and second with just one out. Johnson was able to get a groundout and ended the threat with a strikeout.
 
The Highlanders did not have a runner in scoring position for the remainder of the contest.
 
NJIT senior righty Ryan Fischer (1-4) was the hard-luck loser as he allowed just the two runs over seven innings of five-hit ball.
 
UMBC graduate student right fielder Ian Diaz went 1-for-3 with a walk and Molessa (1-for-4) reached base for the 21^st straight game
 
The series will continue on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.