BALTIMORE --
Sergio Droz went 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBI, two walks ad a stolen base, and then pitched the final 2.1 innings to get the save as the UMBC Baseball team pulled away late to defeat visiting Delaware State, 14-6, on Wednesday at Alumni Field.
The Retrievers (6-6) fell behind 3-0 in the first, but cut it to 3-2 in the second on a Droz two-RBI single, and they would eventually take the lead for good thanks to a four-run fourth inning.
Zach Hampton was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning, Droz then singled, and back-to-back wild pitches tied the game. Droz would then give UMBC the lead when he scored on an
Anthony Mascuilli bunt single,
Danny Wyatt would walk with the bases loaded to make it 5-3, and
Danny Orr hit a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-3.
The Hornets got a run in the top of the sixth, but a Wyatt RBI single to score
Ehi Okojie made it 7-4. DSU would once again answer in the top of the seventh, cutting the Dawgs lead to 7-5, and they loaded the bases with one out when Droz entered to pitch.
Droz quickly induced a grounder to first for the second out that plated a run to make it 7-6, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, he got a strikeout to escape the threat. Once again Droz was the catalyst for the offense in the bottom of the inning as he walked with one out, went to second on a
Derek Paris walk, moved to third on a Mascuilli line out to right, and then scored on a wild pitch.
After Droz worked a perfect top of the eighth, UMBC exploded for six runs in the bottom half to put the game away. Okojie worked a leadoff walk and
Brooks Henderson then doubled before an Orr sacrifice fly scored pinch-runner
Jacob Bagania to make it 9-6.
Kyle Eddington followed with an RBI single,
Jesiah Carpenter and Droz both walked to load the bases before Paris walked to force in another run. Mascuilli then hit a sacrifice fly, Paris stole second and would then score along with Droz on a
Dylan Melton two-run single to conclude the scoring.
Droz retired the final three batters in order to lock down his second save of the season. He did not allow a hit in 2.2 innings of work and the only batter to reach did so via an intentional walk.
Kailen Hackmann picked up his first career win, going three innings and allowing just a lone run to go with a pair of strikeouts.
Chris Harbert pitched 2.2 innings of relief as well, allowing just a run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Melton joined Droz as the only Retrievers with multiple hits, and UMBC stole seven bases, with Carpenter leading the way with two. Okojie, Wyatt, Eddington and Paris also stole a base.
The Dawgs travel south for a three game series at Florida Atlantic this weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
