Maryland
Coppin State
Terps Take Out Coppin State, 26-4
5/7/2002 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman catcher Jason Maxey (Columbia, Md.) went 3-for-4 with four runs and five RBI as the Terps set a season-high for runs by defeating Coppin State, 26-4, in seven innings Tuesday afternoon at Shipley Field. With his 15th round-tripper of the year, Maxey homered for the fourth consecutive game and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games as the Terps completed the season series sweep of the Eagles.
Junior second baseman John McCurdy (Crofton, Md.) hit doubles in all three at-bats to become Maryland's all-time single-season extra-base hits leader with 42. McCurdy also scored three runs and had two RBI as the Terps scored at least four runs in each of the first five innings.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Kevin Solano hit his second home run of the season against the Terps, but Maryland responded quickly in the bottom of the inning. The Terps sent 10 batters to the plate against Coppin starter Stan Alston, with McCurdy, sophomore third baseman Anthony Buffone (Manalapan, N.J.), senior first baseman Kevin McDonald (Rockaway, N.J.) all recording RBI hits and Maxey scoring on a passed ball.
Maxey highlighted the Terps' four-run second inning with a two-run double. The Terps plated the final two runs of the inning without the benefit of a hit, as freshman designated hitter Will Frazier (Mitchellville, Md.) brought home a run with a fielder's choice grounder and junior shortstop Kyle George (Bel Air, Md.) brought home a run with a sacrifice fly.
The Terps scored seven runs in the third inning, including Maxey's home run over the center field fence. Freshman center fielder Justin Maxwell (Olney, Md.) hit a two-run single and junior left fielder Daryl Whitmer (Waldorf, Md.) hit a two-run triple down the right field line. Whitmer now has 13 RBI over his last six games.
The Terps' six-run fourth inning included a pair of two-run homers from junior first baseman Ray Gemmill (Silver Spring, Md.) and junior left fielder Jonny Bass (Charlotte Hall, Md.), while freshman third baseman Jordan Wilson (Frederick, Md.) added a run-scoring double and Maxey scored on a passed ball. Five different players recorded RBI in the five-run fifth inning to round out the Terps' 26-4 margin.
Buffone, Maxwell and senior right fielder Matt Swope (New Carrollton, Md.) each scored three runs for the Terps. Bass was 2-for-2 with two runs and three RBI.
The Terps sent seven pitchers to the mound for one inning each. Terrapin starter Todd Ainsworth (Hershey, Pa.) recorded his team-leading sixth victory against five losses, while Coppin State starter Stan Alston fell to 3-8.
The Terps return to action with their final ACC road series of the season at Florida State this weekend. The three-game set begins Friday with first pitch slated for 7:00 p.m.
