BALTIMORE, Md. – Trailing 5-0 heading into the top of the ninth inning, the University of Maine baseball team plated two runs, but the Black Bears could not complete the comeback, falling to UMBC 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Field.
 
The Retrievers (17-20, 9-6 AE) took a 1-0 advantage entering the sixth frame, and strung together five hits in the inning, which drove in four runs to take the 5-0 lead. The Black Bears (11-28, 6-9 AE) were held to two hits in the first eight innings, as Jeremy Pena tallied a single in the third, while Brandon Vicens smacked a double in the eighth.
 
In the top of the ninth, Jeremy Pena and Danny Casals singled to start the frame, as both runners advanced to second and third following a ground out by Hernen Sardinas. A Christopher Bec ground out scored Maine's first run of the contest to cut the deficit to 5-1. Casals stole third base and Jonathan Bennet drew a walk on four consecutive balls to put runners on the corners.
 
With two outs in the inning, Caleb Kerbs singled to right to score Casals, but Bennett was thrown out at home on the play to end the game.
 
UMBC's Matt Chanin pitched eight innings, striking out four, while gave up two hits to earn the win.
 
Cody Laweryson pitched five-plus innings for Maine, striking out four, and allowed five earned runs. Jonah Normandeau, Matt Geoffrion, and Chris Murphy all pitched one inning in relief, giving up one hit each.
 
The Black Bears are back in action on Wednesday, when Maine travles to UMass for a single non-conference game. First pitch at Earl Lorden Field is set for 3:00 p.m.
 
-UMaine-