March 9, 2012
Box Score
BALTIMORE - UMBC broke a 6-6 tie by scoring five unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and went on to defeat the Navy baseball team, 15-6, on Friday night at the Baseball Factory Field in Baltimore. Friday's game was the first of three between the teams, as the Mids and Retrievers will meet at Max Bishop Stadium on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. both days.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the game tied at six, UMBC took advantage of a Navy error and loaded the bases. Retriever shortstop Jake Barnes capitalized on the opportunity to reclaim the lead for UMBC as he hit a two-RBI single up the middle that brought in the eventual game-winning runs.
Another infield error gave UMBC its third run of the inning and then Rob McCabe made it an 11-6 game with a two-RBI single through the middle.
The Retrievers (2-7) tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the 15-6 win.
"We gave them five outs in the seventh inning and they capitalized," said Navy head coach Paul Kostacopoulos. "Give them credit, they were on their game tonight. They swung the bat very well, they hustled, executed their offense and played a complete game.
"We have to get back at it tomorrow. We have to put it behind us and play better baseball."
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the third inning, consecutive one-out bloop singles by Brandon Beans and Brad Borosak started a four-run rally as the Mids (5-7) sent 10 batters to the plate and took a 5-3 lead.
Nikolai Simonsen, Chance Jones and Greg Dupell all picked up RBI singles in the frame while Kash Manzelli added a sacrifice fly.
Beans extended Navy's lead to 6-3 in the top of the fourth when he led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center field. The home run was the second of the season for Beans.
UMBC scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning and then tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by D.J. Smith, who, along with Barnes, had three RBIs on the evening.
Though he racked up a season-high nine strikeouts, Navy starter Ben Nelson was roughed up early as the Retrievers scored three runs off four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Nelson surrendered six runs (all earned) off nine hits and walked one.
Anthony Parenti, who took over for Nelson and got the final out of the sixth inning, was charged with the loss as he pitched two-thirds of the pivotal seventh frame.
UMBC starter Jon Cobo lasted four innings and he gave up six runs (five earned) off nine hits. Josh Dick pitched the final three innings in relief and yielded just one hit to earn his first win of the season.
Game two of the three-game series is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Max Bishop Stadium.
