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News Release
BASEBALL DOWNS CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE, 4-1, IN KEY CONFERENCE BATTLE
4/21/2002
NEW BRITAIN, CT (April 21, 2002) – Freshman pitcher Eric Butkiewicz (Plainville, CT) allowed just one unearned runs in seven innings, and the defense turned four double plays behind him to help UMBC to a 4-1 win over Central Connecticut State University in Northeast Conference baseball action Sunday. Butkiewicz, now 5-1 on the year, traded zeros for the first five innings with Central starter Jim Clark (S. Dartmouth, MA). UMBC, 23-13 overall and 14-4 in the NEC, came up with three runs in the sixth inning thanks in large part to a miscue by the Central defense. Clarke struck out the first UMBC hitter of the inning, but junior Joe Muscillo (Long Branch, NJ) reached on an infield hit to the hole at short. Senior John Shuler was the next batter and hit a one-hopper to short that could have resulted in a double play, but the ball was mishandled and both runners were safe. Senior Jared Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ) then made the Blue Devils pay by singling up the middle, scoring Muscillo. Brad Glascock (Bel Air, MD) then drew a walk to load the bases, and Greg Deboy (Linthicum, MD) followed with a single to left to plate another run. The third run scored on a ground out by Rick Guarno.. The Retrievers made it 4-0 in the seventh with another unearned run. With one out, Chris Becraft (Clarksville, MD) singled. Muscillo then drew a walk, and Becraft was lifted for pinch runner Mike Orlando at second. Shuler was next and a possible double-play ball to second that was misplayed to load the bases. Boyd then drove the ball to deep center for a sacrifice fly for the fourth run. Central Connecticut, 23-15 overall and 12-6 in the conference, got its lone run in the bottom of the seventh. Chip Rourke (Jewett City, CT) led off by hitting a deep fly to right that was dropped for a two-base error. He scored on an RBI single by Nick Macellaro (Plainville, CT). He was sacrificed to second and went to third on a single by pinch hitter Ned Coffee (Old Lyme, CT). Butkiewicz helped himself out of further trouble when he made a spectacular stab of a line drive up the middle and doubled Coffee off first to end the inning. Butkiewicz was lifted in the bottom of the eighth after walking the leadoff batter. Freshman Kyle Wildasin (Hanover, PA) came in and promptly got the first batter he faced to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. He retired the next batter on a fly out to center field. In the ninth, Wildasin walked Kevin Rival (New Britain, CT) to open the inning, but the got the next three in order to earn his second save of the season. Clarke, now 5-4 on the year, was a tough-luck loser for the Blue Devils. He allowed just one earned run and six hits in 8 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two. at New Britain, CT UMBC (23-13) 000 003 100 – 4 6 1 CCSU (23-15) 000 000 100 – 1 7 2 Eric Butkiewicz, Kyle Wildasin (8) and Scott Kosmicky; Jim Clarke, Lew Pappariella (9) and Chip Rourke. WP- Butkiewicz (5-1) LP- Clarke (5-4) SV- Wildasin (2)