UMBC senior right-handed pitcher Nick Remy would like to forget one game in particular last season.
On April 3, 2024, the Retrievers took the short drive down I-95 to take on local rival Maryland at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. Remy entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and the bases loaded. The Retrievers were ahead, 12-10, at the time.
Three batters later, Maryland celebrated a 13-12 walk-off win. Remy allowed two hits and a walk. One year later, he got his revenge. He struck out three Maryland hitters in 2.2 hitless innings of relief on April 1. He was the pitcher of record for UMBC’s first win in College Park in 20 years.
It’s part of a complete turnaround for Remy, who has settled into a full-time relief role. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander has become one of the best pitchers in the America East.
“Moving from starting to closing simplified things for me, going from pitching most of a game to focusing on getting just three outs,” Remy said. “Switching the mindset helped me, and truthfully, not having [former staff ace Luke Johnson] here has made me step up.”
Remy allowed a combined 98 earned runs in 139 innings of work during his first three years with the program, posting a 6.35 ERA during that span.
Remy earned a chance to start early on at UMBC, with 18 of his 34 appearances in 2022 and 2023 coming as a starter. However, his control wasn’t there. He walked 88 batters in 108.2 innings pitched during his first two years with the Retrievers.
Remy has thrown more strikes in a relief role the past two years.
“He’s always been able to show you some good moments,” head coach Liam Bowen said. “He was a talented kid coming out of high school. … He’s done what you want all the guys to do at our level, which is to become more consistent.”
Even with improved control, a 7.12 ERA as a junior meant that Remy still had plenty of room to grow. He has seemingly put it all together this spring, posting a 3.00 ERA in his first 11 appearances heading into UMBC’s series against UMass Lowell from April 11-13.
Remy had allowed just seven earned runs and 11 hits en route to four wins and three saves. He had also put together eight scoreless outings and six hitless outings, striking out 23 batters along the way.
Perhaps most importantly, Remy had only walked six hitters in 21 innings.
“Experience helps a lot,” the right-hander said. “First two years, you’re kind of just playing around, trying to figure stuff out, getting your footing. … I think what’s put me in the right direction is establishing my command in the zone. If I can throw multiple types of pitches in the strike zone, it makes it much tougher on the opponent.”
Remy throws a fastball, cutter, slider and splitter.
“He’s done a really good job of keeping the ball within the chalk lines of the batter’s box and forcing swings with his stuff,” Bowen said.
With a new role has come a mentality shift. Remy is now the one in the spotlight at the end of games, something he has come to embrace. While starters can get those moments if they pitch deep into games, relievers are often tasked with neutralizing opposing hitters during the game’s biggest moments, when the lights shine brightest.
Remy uses that adrenaline rush to his advantage.
“You get juiced up throughout the game,” Remy said. “You might be down 4-0 at the beginning of a game, your team comes back and you’re sitting down there in the bullpen ready to go, waiting to come in and close the deal. It’s a great feeling and I tell everybody, nothing beats it.”
UMBC was 11-15 overall and 4-5 in the America East heading into its series against UMass Lowell. The top six teams from the seven-team conference will participate in the America East tournament in late May, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Retrievers have not won the league since 2017.
Remy will continue to be an important piece at the back end of UMBC’s bullpen, a unit the Retrievers will need to perform at a high level to challenge for conference supremacy.
“The switch has happened and I really think we’re headed in the right direction,” Remy said.
Photo Credits: Tyler Kraft/UMBC Athletics
Originally published April 16, 2025