Baseball Captures Series At UMBC With 5-2 Victory

BALTIMORE – In his first career start, freshman Ryan Stinar led the University at Albany baseball team to a 5-2 victory over UMBC Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field. The win captured the series for the Great Danes, while improving their record to 6-10 overall and 3-3 in America East Conference play.

Earning the win, Stinar (1-0) went six innings, yielding no earned runs, four hits, while striking out three. Out of the bullpen, Derek Zielinski shut out the Retrievers for the final three innings, picking up the save.

UMBC freshman Riley Stephenson (0-3) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits over four innings of work.

The visitors struck first in the top of the third, sparked by a lead-off single to left by Matt Hinchy. Nolan Gaige reached on a bunt down the third base line and both runners moved over on a sac bunt. The Great Danes took the lead for good as Greg Muller flew out to deep center, bringing in Hinchy. Josh Nethaway then singled through the left side, plating Gaige for a 2-0 lead.

Stinar sat the Retrievers down in order in the bottom of the third and the Danes took advantage, pushing the lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the fourth. Brian Bullard led off with a triple to the right-centerfield gap and crossed the plate on Evan Harasta’s single to left. Two more runs then came in on a Gordon Madej’s fielder’s choice and Muller’s sac fly.

Both teams went down in order in their next at-bats, but UMBC rallied in the bottom of the fifth for two runs to cut the lead to three, 5-2. With two runners on after a fielder’s choice and walk, a fielding error on a groundball to second allowed both runs to score.

Looking to tack on a couple of insurance runs in the sixth, UAlbany gained runners on first and second with no outs. However, relievers Kevin Ladner and Jon Cohn spoiled the rally.

The Retrievers hoped to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Jake Barnes walked and senior Jason Allinder singled to put runners on first and second. A strikeout, pop out, and liner cut the rally short, leaving the gap at three.

UMBC made another comeback bid in the eighth, loading the bases. However, the rally was once again cut short with a strike out and ground out to second and Zielinski held the Retrievers off in the ninth.

Offensively, Nethaway, Hoagboon, Harasta, and Hinchy all had two hits, as the Great Danes combined for 11 hits in the win.

Up next, UAlbany will travel to Ithaca, N.Y. for a midweek non-conference clash with Cornell, Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.