UMBC

Freshman Eddie Bach pitched a complete game no-hitter but took the loss on Saturday.

West Hartford, CT –  The UMBC baseball team (14-26, 3-10 AE) came up short despite two strong pitching performances as the Retrievers lost 1-0 and 5-1 to Hartford (8-30, 5-10 AE) in America East baseball action on Saturday.  UMBC starter Eddie Bach pitched a complete game no-hitter despite taking the loss in game one. 

In the opening game the Hawks had the first scoring opportunity in the second inning when Derek Litke started the inning by reaching on an error. After a fly ball to left field, two walks loaded the bases with only one away. Bach kept the game scoreless, retiring the next two batters in order with an infield fly and a ground out to first base.

UMBC had a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth inning with the second batter of the inning, Joe Fowler reaching on a two-base error on a fly ball to center field. After the next batter popped up, in the infield, Steve Bowen smacked a line drive single up the middle. Fowler was cut down at the plate as the throw from Bryan Propst  was on target catcher Ryan Crowley applied the tag to keep zero's in the scoring column.

The only run of the game came in the bottom half of the sixth when Bill Perry reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. Perry then stole second and third on the next batter and scored the unearned run on a wild pitch by Bach. Despite allowing four hits on the day, starter Weston Szymanski picked up his fourth win of the season (4-4), while throwing his second complete game. Back ended the game holding the Hawks to no hits but suffered his fourth loss overall, he is now 3-4.  Bach struck out four, allowed three walks and had two wild pitches.  

In the second game the Hawks began the scoring early with a single run in the bottom of the first. Brady Stouffer led off the inning with a single to right field. A bunt allowed Perry to get on board, and both runners advanced into scoring position on a throwing error on the third baseman. A well played grounder to second base allowed Perry to touch home easily for the games first run.

The Retrievers evened things up in the second inning with their own run made possible on a fielding error by Hartford's shortstop. The error put leadoff batter Mike Scheffel on base and a walk had runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt with two strikes on Mark Lemon safely sent the runners to scoring position. The run came across the plate on the first of two back-to-back groundouts to second base, stranding one of the two runners on base.

The Hawks put four insurance runs up in the sixth inning. A lead off walk started the inning off wrong for the Retrievers. Grossman worked he walk and then was pushed to second on a fielder's choice bunt for Adam Bowser. The next two batters would reach base for Hartford, making it four-straight. Stouffer attempted a second sacrifice for Hartford which went in the Hawks favor when the third baseman threw a short hopper past the second baseman who was covering first. Two runs would score on the miscue. On the next at bat Perry sent a double to right field plating Stouffer. Perry would then score two batters later on a Crowley double to left. 

Chris Browne was the second Hartford pitcher of the day to go the distance for the Hawks, picking up his second win of the season, now 2-5 overall. In his seven innings of work, Browne allowed two runs, one earned, on five Retriever hits and struck out two batters.

Zach Clark (1-4) took the loss, going 5.0 inning and allowing five hits, five runs, three earned and striking out four.  Tom Schlein pitched a scoreless sixth inning.   

Hartford and UMBC will close out the four-game series with a single game on Sunday afternoon beginning at 12:00 p.m.