UMBC

Kyle Wildasin is currently on an eight-game hitting streak.

Baltimore, Md. – The UMBC baseball team looks to get back on the winning track this week after three close losses last week.  Fans can follow both of UMBC’s away games this week as Tuesday’s game against Richmond can be viewed through the live stats link in the Retrievers schedule and fans can listen to Wednesday game at William & Mary by clicking on the radio link also in the Retriever schedule area. 

LOOKING AHEAD                                     

UMBC Continues Road Swing Through Virginia Before Home Doubleheader on Friday

The UMBC baseball team travels to Richmond and William & Mary on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively before returning home from four-consecutive road games to host Buffalo in a noon doubleheader on Friday.  Last year the Retrievers did not face Richmond and dropped three to the Tribe at William & Mary.  The Retrievers will look to avenge a one-run loss to the Bulls last week with the doubleheader on Friday afternoon. 

WEEKLY WRAP

Young Retrievers’ Squad Falls Just Short On The Week

The Retrievers young squad came up just short this past week, falling in two contests by one run and the other by two runs.  To open the week, UMBC hosted Buffalo on Tuesday as the Retrievers dropped their first of two one-run decisions, 7-6.  Buffalo used three solo homeruns over the final five innings to get the win after UMBC tied the game at 4-4.  The Retrievers traveled to Delaware on Wednesday, coming up short in an error riddled game against the Blue Hens.  Delaware made seven errors and the Retrievers three in the 5-3 loss.  All scoring came in the first four innings with UMBC’s only marks in the second, scoring three runs by taking advantage of four Blue Hen errors.  To the end the week the Retrievers went 10 innings at Georgetown on Thursday as the Hoyas scored in the eighth to tie the game 3-3 and won the game with a run in the bottom of the 10^th with one out for the 4-3 win.  UMBC loaded the bases in the top of the 10^th with one out but a double play ball by the Hoyas allowed the to escape the inning with the game still tied.

DAWG BITES

Wildasin’s Hit Streak Extends To Eight Straight

Senior Kyle Wildasin extended his hit streak to eight consecutive games with hits in all three games last week.  Wildasin has opened the year with a hit in nine of the opening 10 games of the season.  On the year Wildasin is batting .349 with 15 hits, including two doubles.  Last year hit in 22 out of 23 consecutive games with hit streaks of 10 and 12.  Zach Clark’s 13-game hit streak last year was the only longer one on the season. 

Steve Russo Named America East Rookie Of The Week

Freshman Steve Russo was named America East Conference Rookie of the Week by the conference office for the week ending March 20, 2005.  Russo last week went 3-for-6 from the plate with a run scored and RBI.  Russo played in two games last week, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a start against Buffalo.  Russo started the Retrievers scoring against the Bulls, singling up the middle in the second inning to drive in teammate Tom Rinaldi.  Russo later singled in the game for his second hit and was brought to the plate on an RBI groundout by Anthony Socarras.  Russo ended the week 1-for-2 at the plate against Georgetown.  On the season Russo is hitting .353 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Russo holds a team-high on base percentage of .476.    

Laddbush’s Three-Run Walk-Off Homerun Sparks Five-Game Hit Streak

Sophomore transfer Alex Laddbush has a five-game hit streak going that started with his three-run walk-off homerun against Canisius on March 12^th.  Since that game Laddbush ahs hit safely in four more games and is batting .333 on the season with two doubles and three RBI. 

Phipps Yet To Give Up Earned Run

Senior pitcher Blake Phipps has yet to give up an earned run in a team-high five appearances.  Phipps in relief threw 1.2 innings last week to raise his season total to 12.0 innings pitched.  Phipps this year has held opponents to a .167 batting average, facing 42 batters.  Phipps has one win and allowed seven total hits, two runs, none earned, seven walks, one extra base hit (double) and struck out three batters. 

Weather Clears As UMBC Hits the Field Three-Days In A Row.

While poor weather put UMBC on a 12-day break after their first three games, Mother Nature started to cooperate with the Retrievers as UMBC hit the field for three straight days and have played seven unaffected games over the past two weeks.  UMBC hopes the weather will continue to stay dry with four games scheduled this week.

16-Inning Contest Longest In School History

UMBC’s 16-inning game against Old Dominion stands as the longest baseball game in UMBC baseball history.  The Retrievers tied the game in the ninth inning at 4-4 which stood idle until a run in the bottom of the 16^th inning by host Old Dominion gave the Monarchs a three-game sweep.  The 16-inning affair also proved to be the longest in Old Dominion’s history as well.

Newcomers Going Deep

Of UMBC’s four homeruns this year, all have come off the bat of a newcomer.  Ian Carman hit the Retrievers first homerun of the year at Old Dominion earlier this year.  Mark Lemon went deep in the ninth inning against Towson while Alex Laddbush and Joe Fowler each recorded three-run shots against Canisius.  Laddbush’s homerun came in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and UMBC down two runs.  Laddbush connected on a pitch over the left centerfield wall for the walk-off homerun to win the game for UMBC in their final at bat.  The next day Fowler lifted one over the left field fence in the first inning sparking UMBC to six runs in their opening at bat.  UMBC went on to win the game, 10-7. 

RETRIEVER RECORD CHASING

Jancuska’s  600 Career Win Watch At 12 Games

UMBC skipper John Jancuska is on the verge of 600 career wins, all coming during his 28 year stay at UMBC.  Jancuska entered the 2005 campaign with 586 career wins, 14 shy from accomplishing the 600-win plateau.  Jancuska came up short last week and stayed at the dozen mark as two games were lost by one run and one by two runs.  Jancuska’s Retrievers have four games on tap this week.

Butkiewicz Chasing All-Time Marks

Senior Eric Butkiewicz is in reach of three all-time career marks in the UMBC Pitching record books.  Butkiewicz entered the season second in starts, fourth in innings pitched and fifth in career strikeouts.  To date this season Butkiewicz has two starts, pitched 16.0 innings and recorded 11 strikeouts.

UMBC Pitching Games Started Chart

    Name                                 Starts

1. Tom Bloom                      50

2. Eric Butkiewicz               40

3. Bill Gerhardt                     36

    -bold denotes active player

UMBC Pitching Innings Pitched Chart

    Name                                 IP

1. Tom Bloom                      282.1

2. Kevin Loewe                     281.2

3. Ben O’Connor                  278.2

4. Eric Butkiewicz               272.0

    -bold denotes active player

UMBC Pitching Strikeouts Chart

    Name                                 Strikeouts

1. Ben O’Connor                  201

2. Kevin Loewe                     200

3. Tom Bloom                       198

4. Bill Gerhardt                     194

5. Eric Butkiewicz               186

    -bold denotes active player

Wildasin On Track To Become All-Time Leader In Appearances

UMBC senior Kyle Wildasin is on track to become the all-time UMBC leader in appearances, trailing Eric Weltmer who made 70 pitching appearances at UMBC.  Wildasin has made two appearances on the mound in the first seven games of the season, surpassing Tom Bloom for second place all-time.  Wildasin holds first and second place on UMBC’s single-season chart for games played.  Eric Butkiewicz is tied for seventh all-time.

UMBC Pitching Appearances Chart

    Name                                 Appearances

1. Eric Weltmer                    70

2. Kyle Wildasin                   65

3. Tom Bloom                       63

4. Kevin Loewe                    57

5. Ray Hall                             56

6. Eric Butkiewicz               53

    Rich Thompson               53

    -bold denotes active player