Maryland
Duke
Terps Win The Series Opener Over Duke, 6-3
4/26/2002 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 26, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- Maryland junior starting pitcher Jared Stuart (Corning, N.Y.) tossed 6.1 innings and held Duke to three runs on six hits to lead the Terrapins to a 6-3 victory over the Blue Devils Friday night in the series opener at Shipley Field. Stuart (5-2) fanned four and junior Steve Schmoll (Rockville, Md.) finished the final 2.1 innings and struck out five for his first save of the season for the Terps.
Maryland jumped on Duke starter Tim Layden early by scoring two runs off the freshman hurler in the first inning. After back-to-back doubles by junior right fielder Daryl Whitmer (Waldorf, Md.) and sophomore third baseman Anthony Buffone (Manalapan, N.J.), senior center fielder Matt Swope (New Carrollton, Md.) walked to load the bases for the ACC's leading hitter, junior second baseman John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.). McCurdy made the Blue Devils pay, as he delivered a two-run single on a 3-2 pitch to give Maryland a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Buffone drove in a run with a single through the right side to score junior shortstop Kyle George (Bel Air, Md.) and give Maryland a 3-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils got back into the contest in the third with a pair of runs. Shortstop Kevin Kelly came through with a two-run double down the left field line to cut the Terrapin lead to 3-2.
The Terps put the game away with one swing in the fifth when freshman left fielder Will Frazier (Mitchellville, Md.) drilled a three-run home run down the left field line to extend the lead to 6-2.
Duke threatened to get back into the game in the seventh, as the Blue Devils scored once and left the bases loaded to end the inning. After catcher Troy Caradonna singled down the right field line to score second baseman Bryan Smith, Stuart allowed another single before he gave way to Schmoll. After Schmoll hit a batter, he induced first baseman Larry Broadway into a fielder's choice as shortstop Kyle George made a diving stop to save two runs and end the Blue Devil threat.
Schmoll breezed through the final two innings to earn the save and preserve the Maryland victory. The Terps improved to 27-17 overall and 3-13 in the ACC while Duke dropped to 19-24 and 1-12 in the conference.
The two teams will play the second game of the series Saturday at 7 p.m. at Shipley Field.
