UMBC

Joe Fowler went 4-for-4 with three RBI on Friday.

BALTIMORE, Md.-- Scott Robinson struck out 16 batters, one shy of tying the school record, as the University of Maine baseball team defeated UMBC 9-4 on Friday night at The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC. The Black Bears improve to 15-9-1 on the season and 1-0 in America East play. The Retrievers fall to 10-15 on the season, 0-1 in conference play.

Joe Hough led off the first inning with a single up the middle and then stole second on the first pitch to Matt McGraw.  McGraw doubled down the left field line scoring Hough from second base. McGraw moved to third base when Ryan Quintal flied to deep right field but was stranded there.

UMBC took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Mike Scheffel doubled to left center field. Zach Clark then walked. Joe Fowler hit a two-run double to right center field scoring both Scheffel and Clark.  

Maine tied the game in the top of the second inning. Kevin McAvoy led off the inning and belted the first pitch that he saw over the left field fence for his team-leading fifth home run of the season. Maine threatened later in the inning when Billy Cather and Hough had back-to-back singles, but both runners were left on base.

Maine took the lead in the top of the third inning. Joel Barrett led off the inning and he hit his first home run of the season to left center field, high over the 25-foot high fence.

The Retrievers had a two-out rally to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. Zach Clark doubled to right field and scored when Joe Fowler singled.

UMBC took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ian Carmen and Mark Lemon recorded back-to-back singles. Brian Moran singled to center field and Carmen scored. Moran advanced to second on the throw and Lemon to third. Scheffel was hit-by-a-pitch which brought up Zach Clark. Robinson was able to strike out Clark and the Retrievers left the bases loaded.

Maine scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead. McAvoy and Danny Menendez had back-to-back singles. Sean Parker reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. McAvoy scored when Cather grounded out to second base. Joe Hough followed with a triple and scored when the ball was thrown away to give Maine the 7-4 lead. For Hough, it was his third triple of the season.

The Black Bears added to their lead with single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.  Hough led the way for Maine at the plate as he was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI. Menendez was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Fowler went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI while Zach Clark had a hit as both extend career and season-long hit streaks to 15-games each.

Tom Comiskey pitched 7.2 innings for the Retrievers. He allowed eight runs, four of which were earned, on 11 hits while fanning three batters. Tom Schlein pitched 0.1 inning and allowed one hit. Mike Fitzpatrick pitched the ninth inning for the Retrievers.

The two teams return to action on Saturday, April 8 for a pair of seven innings games beginning at 3:30 p.m.