BALTIMORE, Md. - Led by senior rightfielder Brian Klukowicz, who had three hits and five runs batted in, the University of Maryland Baltimore County (8-33) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and ended the Tigers' six-game winning streak with a 13-7 non-conference victory over the Tigers at Baseball Factory Field on Tuesday evening.
The Retrievers, who came into the game with ten losses in their last 12 games, ended a 13-game losing streak to Towson. UMBC's last win over Towson was a 9-6 victory on May 5, 2004. The Retrievers also handed the Tigers only their sixth loss in their last 25 games.
UMBC sent ten batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning as the Retrievers scored six runs on their way to a 6-0 lead. Freshman leftfielder Rob McCabe led off with a single up the middle. He reached second base when senior Rich Conlon grounded out to second base. After freshman D.J. Ream reached base on an infield single, junior Max Himmelstein gave the Retrievers a 1-0 advantage when he lined an RBI single to centerfield. Senior catcher Rick Phillips followed with an RBI single to rightfield, giving UMBC a 2-0 lead.
Klukowicz upped the lead to 4-0 when he lined a two-run double to left centerfield. After Klukowicz advanced to third base on a wild pitch, junior third baseman Curtis Schickner hit a ground ball to shortstop. When shortstop Nick Natoli made an error, Klukowicz scored to make it a 5-0 advantage. Schickner reached second base when freshman shortstop Bryan Perlmutter grounded out to third base. Schickner scored an unearned run when senior centerfielder Casey Medairy hit a ground ball to senior first baseman Austin Harclerode at first base where he made the Tigers' second error of the inning. Sophomore righthander Mike Volpe finally pitched out of the inning by striking out McCabe.
In the second inning, the Tigers rallied to cut their deficit to 6-2. Senior rightfielder Steve Rice led off with a double to left centerfield. Senior third baseman Chris Wychock drove him home with an RBI double to right centerfield. After senior catcher Brian Wyman grounded out, freshman second baseman Mike Draper reached on an error. When sophomore Cody Reeves was hit by a pitch, the Tigers had the bases loaded with one out.
A sacrifice fly by Natoli drove Wychock to make it a 6-2 game. However, junior righthander Sean Swetnam retired freshman Brandon Gonnella on a fly ball to centerfield, ending the threat.
The Retrievers came right back to add two more runs in the bottom of the second inning when Conlon and Himmelstein walked with one out. Phillips greeted freshman lefthander Kyle Paul with an RBI double to give UMBC a 7-2 lead. Klukowicz plated another run when he grounded out to second base before Schinckner was retired on a ground ball to first base.
In the third inning, UMBC added two more runs when McCabe doubled in Perlmutter, who had reached on an infield hit. Conlon followed him with an RBI single up the middle to give UMBC a 10-2 advantage.
The Tigers added two more runs in the fourth inning as Wychock singled and advanced to third base on a double by Draper. With two outs, Natoli lined a two-run singled to left field. After he stole second base, Gonnella drew a walk. But, Sweetan pitched out of the inning by getting Harclerode on a pop up.
With their lead trimmed to 10-4, UMBC scored a run in the fourth inning when Klukowicz singled with one out and scored on a single by Perlmutter.
Junior lefthander Luke DiBlasi came on to pitch for UMBC in the fifth inning. He held Towson to one unearned run on three hits over the next four innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out three. In the eighth inning, the Tigers scored an unearned run with two outs when Wychock singled and Wyman doubled. Wychock came around to score when Draper reached base on an error. Reeves struck out, ending the threat.
After sophomore lefthander Mike Ryan pitched two shutout innings and sophomore righthander Mike Bronakoski threw one shutout, freshman righthander Troy Bennett came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Klukowicz gave UMBC a 13-5 advantage when he hit a two-run double.
In the ninth inning, the Tigers cut into their deficit. Freshman Hunter Bennett opened the inning with a pinch hit single. When senior Brady Baxter followed with another pinch hit single, the Tigers had two runners on base with no outs. Freshman Dominic Fratantuono, the Tigers' third consecutive pinch hitter, tripled to right centerfield to drive in two runs to make it a 13-7 game.
Sophomore righthander Sam Bashioum nailed down the win by retiring the next three hitters in a row.
Klukowicz, Perlmutter and Phillips each had three hits as UMBC outhit the Tigers by a 16-13 margin.
UMBC's 13 runs matched their season high, set in a win over Long Island in March. It was only the second time this season that the Retrievers had scored more than ten runs in a game.
Wychock led the Tigers with three hits and three runs scored. Harclerode extended his hitting streak to 12 games by going two-for-four. Draper also added a pair of his while Natoli had one hit and drove in three runs.
The Tigers return to action on Wednesday afternoon when they host George Washington University at Schuerholz Park at 3:00 p.m.
