BALTIMORE—NJIT took two wins in a three-game baseball series at Towson on Sunday and Monday, but the Highlanders ran into a road block when they traveled south to UMBC, allowing eight runs in the first five innings and falling to the Retrievers, 12-2, Tuesday afternoon.
 
UMBC, which pounded out 18 hits, including two home runs and two doubles, got a run each in the second, third, and fourth innings before erupting for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead. UMBC scored twice in each of its last two innings at the plate, while NJIT scored one run apiece in the third and ninth innings.
 
Tuesday's 12-2 win lifted UMBC's season record to 3-7, while the loss dropped the visiting Highlanders back to .500 at five up and five down.
 
The NJIT starting pitcher, freshman right-hander James Sofield, and the first reliever, freshman LHP Justin Chin, were touched for a combined eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits in 4.1 innings. Sofield was tagged with the loss in his first college decision. The Highlanders used three more freshmen in relief and they allowed four runs (two earned) over the last 3.2 innings.
 
Freshman RHP Matt Chanin gave UMBC a strong start, scattering seven hits over seven innings, while allowing just one run. Chanin struck out 10 and walked none. He is 1-0.
 
Cory Callahan and Kevin Ladner each pitched an inning to close out the Retriever victory. Callahan yielded a hit and no runs, while Ladner gave up an unearned run.
 
With 19 hits, UMBC got multi-hit performances from six different players, topped by three hits apiece for DH Hunter Dolshun and C Zack Bright. LF Nick Naumann (2-for-3) hit a home run and drove in three runs. Dolshun hit the other Retrievers home run.
 
NJIT, which had 10 hits of its own, got two each from its three starting outfielders, CF Ed Charlton, LF Evan Pietronico, and RF Jesse Uttendorfer. Both hits for Pietronico were doubles, while Charlton hit a home run and 3B Mike Rampone (1-for-4) also hit a double for the Highlanders.
 
UMBC got its first run in the bottom of the second inning on an infield ground out. Charlton's one-out solo homer in the next half-inning level the score at 1-1 for the Highlanders.
 
The Retrievers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI double CF Andrew Casali and they scored in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by 3B Mitch Carroll.
 
Leading 3-1, the Retrievers broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, keyed by Naumann's three-run home run.
 
NJIT got its second run of the day in the top of the ninth inning thanks to Uttendorfer's RBI single with two outs.
 
The Highlanders will return to Newark, with their next scheduled action planned for Saturday and Sunday noon doubleheaders against Niagara at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.