Maryland
Florida State
Terps Fall To No. 1 Seminoles, 14-6
5/10/2003 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2003
College Park, Md. - No. 1 Florida State (43-8-1, 15-5 ACC) secured a series win on Saturday, defeating the Maryland Terrapins (19-31, 6-16 ACC) by a score of 14-6 in game two of the three game set.
Much like Friday's game, the Seminoles jumped out early with a big inning, this time five runs in the first with the aid of an error and just three hits.
The Terps answered right back with a first-pitch leadoff home run by freshman Mike Costantino (Somerset, Mass.), his second of the year and second against an ACC foe.
Though Florida State scored in a run in each of the next two innings, Maryland stayed close behind thanks to a three-run home run by redshirt senior Ray Gemmill (Silver Spring, Md.) that cut the deficit to 7-4.
But the Seminoles didn't let up, scoring at least a run in four the final six innings, creating a deficit that Terp runs in the sixth and seventh could not make up for.
Terp pitchers have their work cut out for them, as Florida State has scored 10 or more runs in each of their past four games.
Sophomore Sean Kane (West Chester, Pa.) took the loss, dropping to 1-7 with five no-decisions. He allowed eight hits and two walks in four innings, as well as nine runs, only five of which were earned due to three errors.
Maryland has hit well against one of the best pitching teams in the nation. The Seminoles came into the weekend series with a team earned run average of 2.56, and Terp hitters have notched 17 hits and 10 runs in two innings thus far. Today's starter, Matt Lynch (3.75), gave up five earned runs in six innings, while Trent Peterson (2.43) allowed four yesterday.
Maryland collected seven hits in today's game, with six of them coming from three batters - Costantino, Gemmill, and sophomore Justin Maxwell (Olney, Md.) - who each had two hits on the day. Junior Anthony Buffone (Manalapan, N.J.) also had a hit, an RBI-single, while sophomore Will Frazier (Mitchellville, Md.) had a sacrifice fly.
Costantino also made several dazzling plays at third base, smothering every ball that came his way, including a diving stab and a heads up dive to the bag to tag out Stephen Drew.
Costantino continues a stellar freshman campaign for the Terps, hitting .322 with a team-leading 15 doubles, two triples and two home runs. He is second on the team with 56 hits, and his home runs have come against No. 11 Georgia Tech and No. 1 Florida State.
Lynch moved to 10-3 with the win, with three Florida State relievers finishing the game. Blake Balkcom went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, while eight and nine hitters Bryan Zech and Matt Sauls each had three runs batted in as well.
Maryland will throw ace Steve Schmoll (4-4, 4 saves, 3.09 ERA) tomorrow in hopes of claiming the Terp seniors' final regular season ACC game on Senior Day. Schmoll leads the conference in strikeouts and is fourth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings. Florida State will throw Daniel Davidson, who is 8-1 with a diminutive 1.81 earned run average.
The game is expected to begin at 1 p.m., with former ACC Triple Crown winner Derek Hacopian and Terp teammate Ken Noe on hand for the first pitch, which will follow Senior Day ceremonies.
