BALTIMORE -
Ehi Okojie smacked his fifth and sixth homers of the season to power UMBC past Maine on Saturday afternoon, clinching a series victory for the Retrievers.
The Retrievers rapped 11 hits and four extra-base hits, including the two Okojie homers, in the 11-5 win.
Danny Wyatt and
Derek Paris each doubled for UMBC in the winning effort.
For the second straight game against the Black Bears, UMBC fell behind early, trailing 3-0 before tying the contest in the bottom of the fourth. Wyatt was hit by a pitch, advancing to third on a
Danny Orr single. Paris laced a double down the line in left to score Wyatt as the Retrievers finally broke through against Maine starter Vaun Larisa.
Carver Salazar drew a two-out walk, but
Kyle Eddington came up clutch, lacing a single to right center to score Paris and Orr.
Okojie struck for the first time in the bottom of the fifth, putting UMBC ahead 4-3 as he blasted a one-out homer to left center.
The Retrievers tacked on two more in the sixth against reliever Pierce Friedman. Paris singled and
Jesiah Carpenter walked before a double steal put a pair in scoring position. Salazar laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt, scoring Paris to make it 5-3. Eddington would drive in his third run of the day with a sacrifice fly to center, plating Carpenter.
UMBC made it four straight innings with a run, scoring three more in the seventh to build a 9-3 lead.
Anthony Mascuilli led off the inning with a single before Okojie clobbered his second homer of the contest to make it 8-3.
Luke Buscaglia would score the third run of the inning, swiping third and scoring on a throwing error after pinch-running for Wyatt.
Orr drove in the final two runs for UMBC, singling up the middle in the bottom of the eighth before
Aidan Boice came on to close out the contest for UMBC.
Zach Robinson improved to 3-0 this season, scattering nine hits, but allowing just three runs in 6.1 innings.
Chris Harbert tossed 1.2 innings in relief before Boice tossed a scoreless ninth.
With three hits on the day, Okojie recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season. The senior has reached base in all 17 games this season and has a hit in 14 of them.
Orr recorded his third straight two-hit game, raising his average from .193 to .250 in that span.
Paris raised his batting average to a team-best .404 as he contributed his eighth multi-hit game of the campaign.
With three RBI on the day, Eddington matched his career day, logging his fifth career three-RBI day.
UMBC will look to close out the series sweep tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
