UMBC

TEANECK, NJ - Catcher Scott Kosmicky (Baltimore, MD) belted two home runs, including a solo shot in the 10th inning, to lead visiting UMBC to a 9-8 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in Northeast Conference (NEC) baseball action on Saturday. The Knights fell to 13-24 overall and 11-14 in NEC play. UMBC improved to 17-24 overall and 13-11 in league action.

The Knights got on the scoreboard early as leadoff hitter Matt Nugent (Staten Island, NY) hit the first pitch he saw from Retriever starter Joe Wilson (Fairfield, CT) over the left field fence. FDU got two more runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run shot from Jesse Thomas (Ventnor, NJ) with two outs. The Knights added another run to go up 4-0 in the second as Tom McLaughlin (Glendora, NJ) laced a two-out single to left, driving in Lenny Armenti (Bloomfield, NJ) who led off with a walk.

After a scoreless third, UMBC erupted for five runs in the fourth off Knights' starter Jesse Anziano (Meriden, CT) to take a 5-4 lead. Kosmicky led things off with his first solo shot of the day. Anziano walked the next two batters and Kevin Brooks (Gambrills, MD) moved them over with a sacrifice bunt. Kyle Wildasin (Hanover, PA) followed with a single down the left field line to plate two runs. Two batters later Jay Long (Millersville, PA) doubled to plate Wildasin and Mike Orlando (Rochester, NY) put the Retrievers ahead with an RBI single.

The Knights regained the lead in the bottom of the inning as they came right back with three runs. Joe Munda (Glen Head, NY) walked with one out and advanced to second on an infield out. McLaughlin then drove him in with a single to center field and first baseman Pat Geroni (Pt. Pleasant, NJ) connected for a two-run home run, his seventh of the year, to give the Knights a 7-5 lead.

UMBC scored three runs in the sixth, all unearned, to regain the lead at 8-7. A Knights' error in the outfield put the leadoff batter on second base. Long walked in the next at bat and Orlando moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. The first run scored on an infield out by Dan Carpenter (Glen Burnie, MD) and Chris Yetter (Columbia, MD) drove in two more with a double.

The Knights answered in the bottom of the frame with one run. Nugent started the rally with an infield single and Mclaughlin followed with another base hit. Geroni then drove in Nugent with a single to knot the game at 8-8. Despite several opportunities, neither team could scratch a run across in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings.

Kosmicky came to the plate to lead off the 10th and delivered his second round-tripper of the day over the left field fence to give the Retrievers a 9-8 advantage and reliever Matt Farina (Wilmington, DE) set the Knights down in order in the bottom of the inning to close the game out.

Kosmicky went 3-for-5 in the game with two runs batted in and three runs scored, while Yetter was 2-for-5 with two runs batted in. Farina allowed just one-hit and struck out five in 3.2 innings of relief to improve his record to 3-2 on the year.

McLaughlin went 3-for-5 with two driven in for the Knights and Geroni was 3-for-6 with three runs batted in. Thomas also knocked in two, going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks.

The Knights and Retrievers will play a doubleheader on Sunday, May 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m.