Philadelphia, Pa. -- Trailing 7-1 after six innings, UMBC made a furious comeback, scoring in each of the final three innings before ultimately dropping game one of Saturday's doubleheader to Penn, 7-6. 

Derek Paris and Dylan Melton had multi-hit games for the Retrievers, while Eji Okojie blasted a three-run homer for UMBC. 

Penn jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Gavin Degnan connected for a two-run shot to left. 

UMBC trimmed the gap to 2-1 in the fourth. Paris reached on an infield single with two outs and advanced to second as Anthony Mascuilli was hit by a pitch. Kyle Eddington reached on an error by Penn third baseman Michael Powell, allowing Paris to come around to score. 

The Quakers added five runs in the fifth, taking a 7-1 lead before the Retrievers started to punch back in the seventh. 

Chris Harbert drew a lead-off walk, advancing on a Jesiah Carpenter sacrifice bunt. After Melton drew a one-out walk, Okojie got a pitch to hit and blasted a three-run shot out to the opposite field, pulling UMBC within three. 

The Retrievers pulled within two runs, tacking one on in the eighth as Sergio Droz grounded out to short, allowing Mascuilli to score. 

In the ninth inning, Melton singled and advanced on a wild pitch to open things up for UMBC. After Connor Darling retired Okojie, Danny Wyatt singled, moving Melton up to third. Danny Orr grounded out, driving in Melton to make it 7-6 with two outs. Jacob Bagania, who pinch ran for Orr, moved up to third on a wild pitch, putting the tying run just 90 feet away, but Darling got Paris to fly out to center, ending the comeback effort. 

Eddie Sargent took the loss for UMBC, tossing 4.0 innings, allowing two runs, and striking out two. Aidan Boice tossed 4.0 innings of relief, striking out three and allowing just one run. Jake Moss earned the win for Penn, tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball.

The second game of the doubleheader was suspended after the bottom of the eighth with UMBC leading 4-1. It will be completed prior to Sunday's series finale.

Zach Robinson had the best start of his career, tossing seven scoreless innings, striking out seven walking none and allowing five hits. Sergio Droz got the start at second base and had an RBI single before coming into pitch the bottm of the eighth, he struck out two and allowed just one run prior to the suspension. 

Melton and Paris each had two hits and an RBI, while Carpenter had a sacrifice fly. Orr, Eddington and Okojie also had hits in the second game.