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News Release

BASEBALL NEWS AND NOTES

4/18/2005


Alex Laddbush hit a grand slam last week and ranks second on the team with 15 RBI.

Kyle Wildasin has a hit in 23-of-26 games this year.

Baltimore, Md. – This week’s Tuesday Night Baseball game at UMBC features N.Y. Tech at 7 p.m. and Wednesday night game will be for the season series as between the Retrievers and Maryland Terps as each team has won one game this year.  Wednesday’s night game will start at 7 p.m. as well at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC. 

 

LOOKING AHEAD                                     

 

This Week:

4/19   N.Y. at UMBC, 7 p.m. 

4/20   Maryland at UMBC

4/23   UMBC at Binghamton, 12 p.m. (DH)

4/24   UMBC at Binghamton, 12 p.m.

 

Tuesday Night Baseball Pits UMBC vs. N.Y. Tech

Tuesday Night Baseball this week pits UMBC vs. N.Y. Tech at the Baseball Factory Field at UMBC at 7 p.m.  UMBC fell in their first two home night games of the season last week to Navy and Georgetown.  NYIT enters the game with an 11-15 record with three wins against America East foes Stony Brook and Maine, both teams UMBC has played against this year as well.  Tuesday Night Baseball is quickly becoming the place to be every Tuesday night as UMBC will host a Tuesday Night game for the next four weeks of the season leading up to May 10. 

 

Season Series Up For Grabs Against Maryland Wednesday Night

The season series between UMBC and Maryland will be decided on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m. at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC as the Retrievers host the Terps for the first time this year.  UMBC and Maryland split the first two games at Maryland, as the Retrievers fell in the first game, 8-6, but won game two 9-7 with a ninth inning two-run homerun by Mike Scheffel. 

 

UMBC Heads To Binghamton For Conference Weekend Series

The Retrievers will travel to Binghamton to play the Bearcats in a three-game set this weekend with a nine-inning, seven-inning doubleheader on Saturday and a nine-inning series finale on Sunday.  Binghamton is 3-3 in conference play, one game ahead of the Retrievers in the conference standings.  Last year Binghamton swept UMBC in three games.

                                                      

WEEKLY WRAP

                                                                                                          

UMBC Ends Four Game Slide With Series Finale Win Against Maine

UMBC dropped four contests last week before breaking the slide with a 14-1 win over Maine in the series finale.  UMBC moved to 8-19 on the year and 2-4 in conference play, sitting tied for fifth and one game out of the fourth spot. 

 

Navy 7, UMBC 2

Navy spoiled UMBC’s Opening Night at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC with a 7-2 victory over the Retrievers last Tuesday night.  Navy with the win avenged an earlier season loss to the Retrievers and split the two-game season series with UMBC.  Opening Night marked the first of Tuesday Night Baseball at UMBC as the Retrievers play every Tuesday night at home for the next four weeks.  For the game, James Lee went the first 3.0 innings, pitching a perfect three innings besides an error by the Navy defense allowing one runner on.  Lee captured the win to move to 3-3.  Four other Midshipmen combined for the final six innings of the game.   Kyle Wildasin took the loss as Wildasin allowed three runs on four hits in 3.0 innings.  Wildasin went 1-for-4 at the plate with a RBI.  Mike Scheffel finished 1-for-3 with a run and RBI.

 

Georgetown 10, UMBC 4

The UMBC Baseball team fell to Georgetown by a final score of 10-4 at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC last Wednesday night.  Georgetown with the win takes the season series, 2-0.  UMBC, who trailed 5-0 at one point, started to make a comeback as the Retrievers scored four of the next five runs but with two homeruns in the ninth the Hoyas spoiled any hopes of a comeback in the 10-4 win.  Steve Evans took the loss for UMBC going 2.2 innings allowing five runs on four hits with four walks.  Zach Clark and Blake Phipps each threw two innings with both recording four strikeouts.  Steve Russo went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored.  Russo doubled twice and singled twice for UMBC.   

 

Game 1:  Maine 3, UMBC 2  Game 2: Maine 10, UMBC 6

UMBC dropped both ends of a doubleheader with Maine as the Black Bears edged UMBC 3-2 in game one and took the back end of the twinbill with a 10-6 victory at Maine’s Mahaney Diamond on Saturday afternoon.  UMBC trailed by two runs going into the fourth as Joe Fowler singled home Steve Russo from second base to half the Black Bears lead.  UMBC tied the game in the top of the fifth as Brian Moran tripled to lead off the inning.  Kyle Wildasin, who went 3-for-5 from the plate in game one, knocked in Moran with a single.  Wildasin also doubled in the game.  Ray Vallee in the bottom of the seventh singled and moved around to third on a stolen base and ground out.  Ryan Quintal singled home Vallee for the eventual gamewinner.  Jon Pavlis went 8.0 innings for UMBC for a complete game performance, holding Maine to three runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts.  Pavlis took the loss falling to 2-2.

 

In game two UMBC scored their first runs of the game much like game one as Joe Fowler doubled to bring Steve Russo to the plate from second base in the top of the second inning.  UMBC and Maine flipped flopped leads over the next three half innings as Maine countered with two runs in the bottom of the second only to see UMBC regain the lead as back-to-back RBI singles by Kyle Wildasin and Tom Rinaldi gave UMBC a 3-2 advantage.  In the bottom of the third, however, Maine tattooed the Retrievers for six runs on five hits and taking advantage of two Retriever errors as they controlled the game 8-3.  Joe Fowler would homer in the fourth and drive in two with a two RBI single in the fifth but it wasn’t enough as Maine took the 10-6 win.  Fowler finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored.  Zach Clark went all six innings for UMBC, allowing 11 hits and 10 runs, six of them earned to fall to 0-4. 

 

Game 3:  UMBC 14, Maine 1

UMBC’s Eric Butkiewicz took a no hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning as the Retrievers downed the University of Maine baseball team 14-1 on Sunday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond. Maine was able to break up the no-hit bid with one run and two hits in the ninth, but fell to the Retrievers. With eight strikeouts in the game Butkiewicz solely takes over first place in UMBC’s career strikeouts chart. 

 

UMBC jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kyle Wildasin and Joe Fowler each had two-run singles for the Retrievers. They added to their lead in the top of the second inning with six runs. Alex Laddbush had a grand slam, while Steve Russo had an RBI double to right field. The Retrievers added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Wildasin had an RBI single. Laddbush also had an RBI single as he drove in five runs on the day. UMBC added a run in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 14-0.  Butkiewicz pitched nine innings for the Retrievers and allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out eight batters in the win. Butkiewicz improves to 3-4 on the season.


DAWG BITES

 

Eric Butkiewicz Takes Over Sole Possession Of First Place On Career Strikeouts Chart

Senior Eric Butkiewicz struck out eight batters against Maine to become the all-time career leader with 208 career strikeouts.  Butkiewicz, who entered the season with 175 strikeouts, has sat down 34 batters to date this season.  Butkiewicz became just the third player in Retriever history to record 200 career strikeouts.

 

UMBC Pitching Strikeouts Chart

    Name                                 Strikeouts

1. Eric Butkiewicz               208

    Ben O’Connor                  201

3. Kevin Loewe                     200

4. Tom Bloom                       198

5. Bill Gerhardt                     194

    -bold denotes active player

 

Eric Butkiewicz Becomes First Retriever Pitcher To Throw 300 Career Innings

Senior Eric Butkiewicz went past the 300 career innings pitched plateau during his two-hit 14-1 win over Maine on April 17.  Earlier this year Butkiewicz became UMBC’s all-time career leader in innings pitched after throwing 7.0 innings at George Washington on March 30.  Butkiewicz now has pitched 303.1 career innings in the UMBC black and gold.

 

UMBC Pitching Innings Pitched Chart

    Name                                 IP

1. Eric Butkiewicz               303.1

2. Tom Bloom                      282.1

3. Kevin Loewe                     281.2

4. Ben O’Connor                  278.2

    -bold denotes active player

 

Fowler Becomes Third Retriever Freshman To Earn Rookie of the Week Accolades

UMBC Baseball freshman Joe Fowler was named Co-Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 17, 2005.  Fowler becomes the third different Retriever this season to earn a rookie of the week accolade from the conference, joining Steve Russo and Mark Lemon.  Fowler extended his hit streak to six consecutive games during the week, batting an impressive .529 in five games for the Retrievers.  Fowler drove in nine runs and recorded four extra base hits, three doubles and a homerun, his team-high fourth of the year.  Fowler held a slugging percentage of .882 and on base percentage of .556 as he moved up as the team leader in RBI on the season with 19.  Fowler in three starts at conference foe Maine went 7-for-12 at the plate with seven RBI, two doubles, one homerun, two runs scored and a 1.000 slugging percentage in the three-game series.  Fowler leads the team in batting average in conference play, hitting .421 in six games.  

 

Butkiewicz No-Hit Bid Comes Up Short In Ninth

Senior Eric Butkiewicz took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Maine coming three-outs from reaching the milestone before a single and double led to one run and two hits for the Black Bears.  Butkiewicz finished off Maine and captured his second consecutive conference win. 

 

Butkiewicz Taking Control Of Mound In Conference Play

Senior Eric Butkiewicz in conference play holds a 1.69 ERA in 16.0 innings worth of work.  Butkiewicz in two starts has one complete game, two wins and held opponents to a mere three runs on 12 hits.  Butkiewicz in conference play has struckout 13 batters, held opponents to a .207 batting average and averaged 3.6 batters per inning. 

 

Wildasin Has Hits in 23-of-26 Games played

Junior Kyle Wildasin, who has a eight-game and 10-game hit streak this season, has hit safely in an impressive 23-for-26 games this season for UMBC.  Wildasin enters the week with a team-high batting average at .352 and holds a .444 slugging percentage and .398 on base percentage on the year as well.    

 

Newcomers Going Deep

Of UMBC’s 15 homeruns this year, all but four have come off the bat of a newcomer.  Last week Freshman Joe Fowler hit his team-high fourth homerun of the year while Alex Laddbush with a Grand Slam tallied his third homerun of the season.  Fowler leads the team with 19 RBI and Laddbush second with 17 runs driven in. 

 

Tom Rinaldi Named America East Conference Player of the Week For Week of April 3

Sophomore Tom Rinaldi was named America East Conference Player of the Week for the week ending April 3, 2005.  The sophomore Rinaldi had an outstanding week behind the plate for the Retrievers, playing in two of UMBC’s three games in three days, hitting an impressive .700 with three doubles, three RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Rinaldi went 3-for-4 from the plate against George Washington, recording a double in the game. The next day at Navy, Rinaldi went 4-for-6 from the plate, recording his first four-hit game as he drove in three runs, scored one and cracked two doubles, leading UMBC to an 11-2 win over Navy. Rinaldi on the season is batting .395 with 10 RBI, five doubles and a .512 slugging percentage. Rinaldi enters this week with a seven game hit streak.

 

Lemon Garners America East Rookie of the Week Honors For Week of April 3

Freshman Steve Lemon was named America East Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 3, 2005.  Lemon batted .333 for UMBC and held a .429 on base percentage scoring one run and driving in two. He had two hits at Maryland and gathered two more at Navy, going 2-for-4 from the plate against the Midshipmen, scoring on run and recording two RBI in UMBC’s 11-2 win.

 

Steve Russo Named America East Rookie Of The Week For Week of March 20

Freshman Steve Russo was named America East Conference Rookie of the Week by the conference office for the week ending March 20, 2005.  Russo that week went 3-for-6 from the plate with a run scored and RBI.  Russo played in two games, 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.   

 

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 16th 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.

 

RETRIEVER RECORD CHASING

 

Jancuska’s  600 Career Win Watch At Seven 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 went 1-4 last week to move to six games away from 600 with 594 career wins.  Jancuska’s Retrievers have five games on tap this week.

 

Butkiewicz Chasing All-Time Starts Mark

Senior Eric Butkiewicz entered the season in reach of three all-time career marks in the UMBC Pitching record books and accomplished two already, becoming UMBC’s all-time leader in innings pitched and  career strikeouts leader.  Butkiewicz entered the season second in starts, fourth in innings pitched and fifth in career strikeouts.  With a start last week Butkiewicz needs six to tie that all-time mark.

 

UMBC Pitching Games Started Chart

    Name                                 Starts

1. Tom Bloom                      50

2. Eric Butkiewicz               45

3. Bill Gerhardt                     36

    -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 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 pitched.  Eric Butkiewicz is fourth all-time.

 

UMBC Pitching Appearances Chart

    Name                                 Appearances

1. Eric Weltmer                    70

2. Kyle Wildasin                   69

3. Tom Bloom                       63

4. Eric Butkiewicz               59

    -bold denotes active player

 

Wildasin Adds To Career Saves Mark

UMBC senior Kyle Wildasin added to his UMBC all-time career saves mark with a save against Richmond.  Wildasin entered in the eighth inning after Richmond had closed the gap to 10-6 and held bases loaded with no outs.  Wildasin pitched UMBC out of the eighth and threw a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his ninth career save.              

 

UMBC Pitching Saves Chart

    Name                                 Saves

1. Kyle Wildasin                   9

2. Ira Carlson                       6

    Eric Weltmer                     6

    -bold denotes active player