Maryland
UMES
Terps Make Quick Work Of UMES, 22-1 & 23-0
3/5/2002 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 5, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The Maryland baseball team jumped all over UMES early and often, defeating the Hawks 22-1 and 23-0 in a doubleheader Tuesday at Shipley Field in College Park. The back-to-back 20-run games for the Terrapins is a first in school history and over their current seven-game winning streak, the Terps have outscored their opponents 103-16.
In game one, the Terps scored just once in the first before putting five on the scoreboard in the second. Senior Matt Swope (New Carrollton, Md.) delivered the big hit with his first career grand slam off the scoreboard in left field. The grand slam was also the first by a Maryland player since Craig Munroe belted one vs. UMES on April 21, 1999.
The Terps scored another four runs in the third to extend the lead to 10-1. Junior Daryl Whitmer (Waldorf, Md.) just missed a grand slam, with a bases clearing double off the fence in center field, to score three runs and make the score 9-1. Swope knocked in his career-high fifth run of the game later in the inning with a double to right center to score Whitmer.
Maryland put the game out of reach with 12 runs in the fourth. Junior Ray Gemmill (Silver Spring, Md.) smacked a pinch-hit, three-run home run and senior Kevin McDonald (Rockaway, N.J.) also blasted a grand slam as the Terps used just four hits and three UMES errors to score the 12 runs.
Maryland starter Derek Hoffman (Hagerstown, Md.) earned his first career victory and complete game by limiting UMES to just one run on three hits over his five innings of work. Hoffman (1-0) struck out a career-high eight for the winners.
In the nightcap, the Terps continued to hit the ball all over the ballpark to cruise past the Hawks. Maryland scored five runs in the first inning including a two-run homer from junior John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.).
In the second, the Terps tacked on six more runs including a three-run home run from freshman Jason Maxey (Columbia, Md.).
McCurdy was back at it again in the third as he clubbed his second homer of the game to become the first Maryland player to hit two home runs in a game since Steve Oursler did last season vs. Towson. The Terps added another five hits and eight runs in addition to McCurdy's leadoff home run to extend their lead to 20-0 after three innings.
In the fourth, freshman Justin Maxwell (Olney, Md.) got into the act with a two-run triple and Johnathan Bass (Charlotte Hall, Md.) added a RBI-single to close out the scoring at 23-0.
Freshman starter Brooks Norris (Baltimore, Md.) pitched the complete-game victory by tossing five innings and allowing just two hits with eight strikeouts.
With the two victories, the Terps improve to 9-2 on the year and they have won seven in a row. Maryland will look for its eighth straight victory Wednesday afternoon at Towson. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Towson.
