March 1, 2002

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The Maryland baseball team used excellent starting pitching and a potent offensive attack to cruise to a pair of victories over Pace University Friday at Shipley Field. The Terps won the first game 5-3, and rolled in the nightcap, 21-1, over the Setters. The 21-1 victory for the Terrapins in game two was their biggest win since a 21-0 shutout over Coppin State on April 7, 1998.

In game one, Maryland starter Jared Stuart (Corning, N.Y.) was dominant as he set a new career high with 11 strikeouts. Stuart earned the tough-luck no decision as he limited the Setters to just one run on four hits in 5.1 innings of work.

After Pace tied the score at three in the top of the seventh, the Terps got a big two-out RBI single by junior Ray Gemmill (Silver Spring, Md.) to regain the lead at 4-3. In the eighth, sophomore Anthony Buffone (Manalapan, N.J.) got another key two-out, RBI single, to score Daryl Whitmer (Waldorf, Md.) and pad the Terps' lead to 5-3.

Senior closer Ken Beck (Laurel, Md.) pitched the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season and preserve the Maryland victory.

Freshman pitcher Chris Clem (Conestoga, Pa.) pitched 1.2 innings to earn his first collegiate victory. Pace reliever Dan Macom (0-1) was tabbed with the loss after allowing two runs in 2.1 innings of work.

In the nightcap, the Terps exploded for season-highs in runs (21) and hits (18) in the 21-1 pounding of the Setters.

Maryland starter Todd Ainsworth (Hershey, Pa.) set the tone with six shutout innings, allowing just three hits with a career high eight strikeouts.

After not scoring any runs over the first two innings, the Terps scored at least two runs in every other inning.

Junior John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.) led a potent attack by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs. Among his four hits for McCurdy was his second home run of the season as Maryland hit three on the night.

Freshman Jason Maxey (Columbia, Md.) and junior Johnathan Bass (Charlotte Hall, Md.) also hit home runs, the first career homers for both.

Buffone finished the nightcap by going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. All three of Buffone's hits were extra-base hits with two doubles and a triple.

Freshman Joe Sargent (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) also got into the act by going 2-for-3 with a career-high four RBIs.

The two victories improve Maryland's record to 6-2 on the year while Pace fell to 0-2. The 6-2 start for the Terps is the team's best start after eight games since the 1975 campaign, when Maryland opened the year 7-1.

The two teams will close out the three-game series Saturday at Shipley Field with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.