Baseball Edged In Series Finale At UMBC, 6-5
BOX SCORE
BALTIMORE – In a key conference series, the hosting UMBC Retrievers clinched a coveted spot in the America East Tournament Sunday, edging the University at Albany baseball team 6-5 in the series finale. With the loss, the Great Danes fell to 13-26 on the season and 6-11 in the America East, while UMBC improved to 30-16 overall and 13-8 in conference play.
Looking to escape a sweep, UAlbany took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Alex Lushkevich led off with a single to second base and scored on Matt Hinchy's single to right.
However, the Retrievers responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, stringing together a walk and four singles.
The Great Danes answered back with three runs of their own in the second, taking a 4-3 advantage. Eric Mueller started the inning off with a hit by a pitch and senior Adam Mund singled to left. Belting a triple to left field, Karson Canaday knocked in two runs and Lushkevich followed with an RBI double to right-center.
In the back-and-forth affair, UMBC regained the lead in the fourth, combining a trio of singles to plate two for a 5-4 lead.
Battling, UAlbany tied the ballgame up in the top of the seventh on Hinchy's two-out solo home run over the left-centerfield wall.
However, the Retrievers quickly countered in the bottom of the inning, as Vince Corbi doubled and scored on Anthony Gatto's RBI single to center, taking the lead for good.
UMBC closer Cory Callahan held UAlbany hitless and struck out three in the final two frames to pick up the save. Connor Staskey earned the win out of the pen, allowing one run and four hits, while striking out two in five innings of work.
For UAlbany, starter Cameron Sorgie (3-4) took the loss, allowing six runs and 11 hits, while striking out four in 6.1 innings.
Offensively, the Great Danes totaled 10 hits led by Hinchy's 4-for-4 day with two RBIs, while Canaday and Lushkevich each added two hits.
Up next, UAlbany closes the regular season and looks to capture a spot in the America East Tournament, hosting Maine in a three-game conference series Friday and Saturday at Varsity Field.
