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News Release

UMBC BASEBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST DUKE, 7-1, 4-0

3/22/2006

Sean Rae won his first game as a Retriever with a 4-0 combined shut out over Duke on Wednesday.

Durham, N.C. - The UMBC baseball team (8-7) swept Duke (8-18) in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field on the campus of Duke University.  The Retrievers took game one 7-1 behind five RBI by Joe Fowler (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark’s) and a complete game performance by Jon Pavlis (Millersville, Md./Old Mill).  UMBC went on to shut out the Blue Devils 4-0 in game two behind sophomore pitcher Sean Rae (Westminster, Md./Frostburg) and freshman pitcher Eddie Bach (Columbia, Md./Athloton). 

In game one, Fowler broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning as the sophomore left fielder hit a three-run home run over the left field fence for his third home run of the season.  Fowler helped the Retrievers tack on three extra runs in the top of the seventh inning, knocking a two-RBI single to left field with two outs.  Zach Clark (Newark, Del./Newark) also recorded an RBI single in the inning.  

The Retrievers scored first in the game as Mark Lemon (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark’s) reached base after being hit by a pitch.  Lemon after stealing second scored on a double by Mike Scheffel (Westminster, Md./Westminster).    

Pavlis was outstanding on the mound, going the complete game for his third complete game in five starts.  Pavlis, who moves to 2-3 on the year, allowed one run on five hits while striking out two.  Fowler finished 2-for-3 at the plate with five RBI and a run scored.  Clark finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Duke’s lone run came in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Adam Murray.  Tony Bajoczky, 1-5, started for the Blue Devils, going 6.0 innings and allowing four runs on six hits.  Ryan Perry and Sean O’Brien pitched the seventh for Duke. 

In game two, Rae, now 1-0 on the year, went 5.1 innings, striking out five and holding the Blue Devils to no runs on five hits.  Rae ran into trouble in the sixth inning, allowing the Blue Devils to load the bases with one out.  Bach entered the game in relief, striking out the next two batters to get the Retrievers out of the inning unscathed. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Bach struck out two more Blue Devils en route to completing the save, his second save.  Bach did not allow a hit in 1.2 innings, striking out four and walking one. 

Offensively in game two, UMBC scored all its runs in the third inning as Anthony Socarras (Miami, Fla./Archbishop Carroll) with one out singled to center field.  A walk to Scheffel and single by Fowler loaded the bases for UMBC.  Clark in the Retrievers’ next at bat singled in Socarras to give UMBC a 1-0 lead.  Steve Gale (Baltimore, Md./Essex C.C.) would than double down the left field line to drive in two more while Ian Carman (North East, Md./Cecil C.C.) reached on an error to drive in the Retrievers fourth run of the inning. 

Gale led UMBC by going 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored. 

Andrew Walcott took the loss, going 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on six hits.  Walcott struck out three and walked three.  Offensively, the Blue Devils collected five hits from five different players. 

UMBC returns home to host Lafayette for a three-day, three-game series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC.