University of Albany

Score: UAlbany 8, UMBC 4
 
Location: Alumni Field – Baltimore, Md.
 
Records: UAlbany (13-26, 8-9 America East) | UMBC (21-20, 9-8 America East)
 
Short Story: The University at Albany baseball team responded after an early deficit, scoring eight unanswered runs to defeat UMBC on Saturday afternoon, highlighted by milestone performances from Cooper Loyal and Dylan Banner.
 
Coach Jon Mueller: "Herculean effort from [Dylan] Banner. He wanted this one for a few years and to complete the task on the road was even better for him. Tough start but was flawless for 8 innings. Cooper Loyal with a huge day offensively."
 
Key Stats:

• UAlbany Pitchers:
  • Dylan Banner – 9.0 IP | 4 ER | 2 K
• Cooper Loyal led the offense with four hits, including a home run, while scoring three runs and driving in two.
• Michael Maggio recorded three hits, scored twice, and added an RBI.
• Levi McAllister and Luke Filippi each drove in two runs.
• Jaxon Mueller added a pair of hits and reached base three times.

How it Happened:

• UMBC jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, plating four runs on five hits to take a 4-0 advantage.
• UAlbany began to chip away in the second inning when Luke Filippi drove in Tre Mariano with an RBI single to make it 4-1.
• In the third, Cooper Loyal recorded his 100th career hit with a double to spark the rally. Michael Maggio followed with an RBI double, and Levi McAllister added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-3.
• After a scoreless fourth, UAlbany took control in the fifth inning. An error allowed Loyal to score and tie the game before McAllister delivered again with an RBI single to give the Great Danes their first lead at 5-4.
• During the bottom of the fifth, Dylan Banner recorded his 200th career strikeout on a swinging strikeout of Ehi Okojie.
• The momentum carried into the sixth, when Loyal launched a two-run home run to extend the lead to 7-4.
• UAlbany added an insurance run in the seventh as Luke Filippi doubled to center to score Patrick DeSarno and make it 8-4.
• Meanwhile, Banner settled in after the first inning and dominated the rest of the way, holding UMBC scoreless over the final eight innings to secure the complete-game victory.

Next: The Great Danes will look to secure the series win in the rubber game against UMBC tomorrow, May 3 at 1:00 PM.
 
Keep up with UAlbany baseball by following the team on X (@UAlbanybaseball), Instagram (@ualbanybaseball), and Facebook (UAlbany Baseball).