Feb. 10, 2001

Box Score

ELON COLLEGE, N.C.- Sophomore second baseman John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.) went 3-for-5 with a double and a three-run home run and a career-high five RBI but it was not enough as the Maryland baseball team (1-1) lost the first game of a doubleheader to Elon, 12-6.

The Terps got off to a good start as junior center fielder Matt Swope (New Carrollton, Md.) led the game off with a home run to center. The first inning fireworks continued with a single by senior third baseman Steve Oursler (Clinton, Md.) followed by a RBI-double by John McCurdy to give Maryland a 2-0 advantage.

Elon got on the board in the second on a RBI-triple by Mike Hromodka. Hromodka later scored on a wild pitch to even the score at two.

In the top of the third, McCurdy struck again, this time with a three-run homer to give the Terps a 5-2 lead. Maryland added another run in the sixth to increase their lead to 6-2.

The Terps could not hold the lead in the late innings as Elon scored 10 runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to secure the win.

In the sixth, Ryan McBee walked to force in a run to cut the Maryland lead to 6-3. Elon's bats came alive in the seventh as the Phoenix plated four runs to take a 7-6 lead. Shaun Kopczynski hit a two-run homer off sophomore pitcher Granville Gehris (Medford, N.J.) for Elon's first two runs of the inning. The Phoenix used a RBI-single and a sacrifice fly for the final two runs of the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Elon kept the pressure on by adding five more runs. Mike Hromodka hit a two-run double and Wes Miller added a RBI-double to increase the Elon lead to 10-6. The final blow by the Phoenix came by the bat of Nate Holcomb as he sent a two-run homer over the left field fence.

The loss dropped Maryland to 1-1 on the season while Elon improved to 3-1.

Terrapin starting pitcher Jared Stuart (Corning, N.Y.) was impressive in the loss. The sophomore pitched a career-best 5.1 innings while allowing just three runs on three hits while fanning two.

John Schaefer pitched one inning to pick up his first win of the year for Elon. Freshman Eric D'Alessandro (Manalapan, N.J.) suffered the loss and is 0-1.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Elon cruised to an 8-2 victory. Elon starting pitcher Whit Bryant (1-0) pitched a complete game while also delivering a grand slam off Maryland starter Steve Schmoll (0-1) (Rockville, Md.) to lead the Phoenix to the win. Bryant was impressive going the distance while striking out four and allowing just two runs on four hits.

Maryland is now 1-2 this season while Elon is 4-1 to start the young season. Both teams will play the series finale tomorrow. The action is set to begin at 1 p.m.