Baltimore, Md. (Apr. 9, 2014) --- Maryland-Baltimore County scored 11 unanswered runs en route to a 17-5 win over Delaware State at Alumni Field this evening.
The Retrievers (7-18) avenged a 16-9 loss to the Hornets at DSU last week.
The three-hour-30 minute contest featured 25 hits, 11 errors and 14 walks. The teams combined to use 12 pitchers, including eight by the Hornets. Eight of UMBC's 17 runs were unearned.
Delaware State (15-11) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Cameron Onderko singled to lead off the game, and later scored on a throwing error after a hit by Cameron Cecil. The next two batters, Aaron Nardone and Mike Alexander, also singled to load the bases with none out.
UMBC starter Shane Vlasic retired the next three Hornets in order, two by strikeout, to get out of the jam without any further damage.
The Retrievers scored four unearned runs after two were out in the second inning off Delaware State starter KT Thomas to pull ahead.
The Hornets got a run back in the third to pull to within 4-2. Cecil led off the inning with a double. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Ron Farley.
UMBC scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to open up a 6-2 lead.
Delaware State pulled closer with two runs in the fifth. Alexander started the rally with a one-out single. Farley followed with a base hit, advancing Alexander to third. Alexander scored on a throwing error by UMBC catcher Manny Colon on Farley's steal of second. Farley moved on to third base on the error; and scored on a one-out double by Eddie Sorondo to cut the Retrievers' lead to 6-4.
The Hornets added a run in the sixth to pull to within one. Onderko was hit by a pitch with one out. He advanced to second and third on UMBC errors and crossed the plate on a single by Alexander to cut the deficit to 6-5. Later in the inning, DSU had the bases loaded with two outs but failed to tack on any more runs.
UMBC got some breathing room with three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the sixth to open up a 9-5 lead. The Retrievers took advantage of five walks, two passed balls and wild pitch by the Hornets in the inning.
Delaware State committed two errors and walked three more batters in UMBC's eight-run seventh inning. Hunter Dolshun had a two-run double in the inning to give the Retrievers a 16-5 lead.
Dolshun and Jake Barnes had two hits and three RBI each to lead UMBC's 13-hit attack.
Alexander was four-for-five with a run batted in for the Hornets. He is nine-for-13 (.692) with a homer, double and three RBI in the last three games to raise his average to a team high .444 this season.
Onderko, Cecil and Farley collected two hit each. Cecil is seven-for-13 (.538) with six RBI and four runs scored in the last three contests.
The Hornets return to MEAC action with a three-game series at Coppin State this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The series concludes with a single game on Sunday starting at 1.
