March 22, 2005
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TERPS TAKE ON DUQUESNE
Returning home from a three-game conference series against Virginia, the Terps start a seven-game home stand against Duquesne (4-8, 1-2 Atlantic 10). Right-handers Sean Kane (0-2, 14.81 ERA) and Mike Sufczynski (1-0, 2.16 ERA) are expected to start for Maryland, and Bob Hartle (0-2, 4.50 ERA) and Joe Kaye (2-0, 8.38 ERA).
Audio broadcasts are available for both games, with links available on www.umterps.com and www.wmucsports.com. Live stats will also be available by logging on to the www.umterps.com baseball site.
Information can now be submitted to join an online newsletter mailing list. Titled "The Maryland Baseball Bulletin", the newsletter is sent to you each time new information is posted to the Maryland website. This includes weekend previews, game recaps, feature stories and more.
PREVIEWING THE DUKES
2005 Record: 4-8 (1-2 Atlantic 10).
2004 Record: 21-28 (11-10 Atlantic 10).
All-Time Series: Maryland leads 3-0.
Last Meeting: Maryland 10, Duquesne 4 - May 11, 2004.
Notes: Duquesne will be playing its fourth doubleheader of the season today, having gone 2-4 in its previous three ... no Duquesne player has more walks than strikeouts, and opponents have a total of 18 more extra-base hits this season ... as a team, the Dukes have walked 40 times to 108 strikeouts, while Duke pitchers have issued 53 walks to 63 strikeouts.
Duquesne is coming off its first conference series of the year, going 1-2 in three games against La Salle. In the final game of that series, the Dukes scored a season-high 15 runs, but fell in extra innings, 17-15. They had 17 hits in that game for their sixth 10+ hit game in eight games. Prior to that, the team averaged four hits in its first four games of the season.
Opponents are hitting just .227 against Game One's probable starter, RHP Bob Hartle. Hartle has made three appearances and two starts this season and has walked one batter in 6.0 innings. Joe Kaye, Game Two's expected starter, is tied for the team lead with two wins, despite an 8.38 ERA. As a whole, the Duquesne staff has a 6.04 ERA and a .297 BAA.
Steve Maiolo and Bill Torre are both hitting over .400 to lead a Duquesne offense that is hitting .276 for the year. Maiolo leads the team in hits (21), RBI (10) and runs scored (10) and is one of two Dukes to have a slugging percentage over .500 and an on-base percentage over .400 (Patrick Kimutis). Kimutis leads the team in doubles (6), extra-base hits (7) and walks (7) and is second with nine RBI.
CURRENT STATS AND TRENDS
Pitching
Josh Andrews has a 3.06 ERA in his last 10 non-conference appearances ... Andrews has yet to give up more than one run in any of his four appearances this season ... dating back to last season, Casey Baron has given up two earned runs in his last 11 appearances of less than 2.0 innings (1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings) ... in the last two seasons, left-hander Chris Bowen has a 1.80 ERA when he comes out of the bullpen ... Bowen has a team-best 1.26 ERA ... all six of Brett Cecil's appearances have been at least 2.0 innings this season ... Chris Clem threw his first complete game of the season at Virginia (3/18), giving up three earned runs and striking out four in 8.0 innings ... Clem is now 3.2 innings and shy of fourth on the school's all-time innings pitched list and nine strikeouts shy of 200 for his career ... after some unfortunate earned runs at UNC Wilmington, Justin Hulse has lowered his ERA with each appearance (eight) he's made ... Hulse hasn't given up a run in his last six appearances and has twice as many strikeouts as hits allowed in his last seven appearances (2:1) ... Sean Kane leads the team with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings ... Ryan Moorer struck out the first batter of his career on Sunday at UVa ... Ben Pfinsgraff has 32 strikeouts and just four walks in 36.1 innings this season ... with four strikeouts on Saturday at UVa, Pfinsgraff went over the 100 career strikeout mark, currently sitting at 101 ... Mike Sufczynski won his first career start against James Madison (3/15), giving up five hits and two runs in 6.0 innings ... both of Sufczynski's career appearances have come in 3-2 Maryland wins ... Brad Taylor gave up three hits and two runs in the first inning against UMES (3/9), but has given up four hits and no runs in 5.1 innings since.
Offense
Chad Durakis has a five-game hit streak, tying for the team's second longest of the season ... with a double at NC State, Will Frazier moved up on Maryland's career lists to a fourth place tie in extra-base hits (72) and a fifth place tie in doubles (45) ... Nick Jowers started in center field on Saturday and Sunday and had hits in each game ... over the weekend, Jowers had his first career hit, run scored, stolen base and RBI ... Truan Mehl has reached base safely in 20 of the team's 21 games this season ... Mehl currently has a team season-high six-game hit streak, with four of his last five being multi-hit games ... for his career, Mehl has exactly 20 stolen bases, 20 walks and 20 RBI ... Dan Melvin is fourth in the ACC in doubles (0.45/g) and leads the team with nine ... Melvin has hits in five of his last six games and is second on the team with a .522 slugging percentage ... freshman Joe Palumbo leads the team with 11 walks and has struck out just twice ... his walks account for 11 of his 17 times on base, and the difference in percentage points between his on-base percentage and batting average (.425 - .179 = .246) is the largest in the ACC (among players with 20 or more ABs) ... Elliot Singletary's last eight hits have been for extra bases, moving up to fourth on the team with a .500 slugging percentage ... Singletary has reached base in 11 of 12 games as the team's leadoff hitter ... Maryland is 6-1 when Jason Von Behren has exactly one hit ... first baseman Jordan Wilson has driven in at least one run in each of his last five games and has a team-leading 15 RBI this season.
RECAPPING VIRGINIA
Coming off a doubleheader split against James Madison, the Terps headed to Charlottesville, Va. for a three-game conference set against Virginia. Virginia, winners of its last nine games, swept a series of games that were each decided by three runs or less.
On Friday, despite a complete game effort by Chris Clem, the Terps dropped the first game of the series, 4-1. Virginia starter, Mike Ballard, threw a complete game, five-hitter, as Maryland lost its first game of the season against a left-handed starter.
Saturday was a heartbreaker for Maryland, which led 5-1 through five innings. A four-run Virginia sixth was capped by an error on a run-down play at home plate and tied the game up at 5-5 through six. The Cavaliers turned to their closer, Casey Lambert, who proceeded to throw 2.2 hitless innings of relief. Chris Bowen was equally effective until giving up a ninth inning walk-off home run to pinch hitter Chris Hudson. Hudson hit an 0-2 offering into a wind that was blowing out to left field, and the home run just cleared the left field wall.
Virginia's Jeff Kamrath stifled Terp hitters on Sunday, throwing 8.0 shutout innings before giving way to Lambert to close out the game. All nine of Virginia's starters had hits, and the Cavaliers scored runs in five different innings to score a 5-2 victory and a series sweep. Nick Jowers and Truan Mehl each had multi-hit games for the Terps, and Jowers drove in his first career RBI with a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth.
STREAKING OUT OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
Despite a tough weekend against Virginia, several Terps current streaks, including Jordan Wilson who extended an RBI streak to five games. Chad Durakis and Wilson each extended hitting streaks to five games, and Truan Mehl extended his current hit streak to a team season-high six games. Justin Hulse lowered his ERA for the seventh straight time and continued a five-appearance scoreless streak. Chris Clem made his fourth straight start of 6.0 innings or more, and Nick Jowers reached base for the third straight game.
OUTFIELD CONTINUES TO PERFORM
With the emergence of freshman Nick Jowers into the outfield mix, the Terrapins now have a solid four-man rotation for the three positions. Will Frazier (left field) and Truan Mehl (right) have settled into the corner outfield spots, and Nick Jowers is showing great promise as a defensive center fielder. Jowers started the final two games of the Virginia series and showed great range and outfield instincts. On Saturday, he ran down a line drive to the base of the left-center field wall, making the catch on the warning track in a tight game.
Frazier also made an impressive catch over the weekend, laying out to make a catch on a liner towards the left field line. Truan Mehl is the key to the Terp outfield, flashing the team's best arm and range, and Brian Jarosinski can play each of the three the outfield positions.
Offensively, Mehl is the team leader with 28 hits and 13 runs and has been a consistent threat from the left side of the plate. Frazier has struggled to start the year, but was one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's best hitters in 2004, and Jarosisinski's powerful bat yielded 16 home runs and 58 RBI a year ago.
RECAPPING JAMES MADISON
Looking to rebound from a tough series at North Carolina State, the Terps took the field on Tuesday and Wednesday against James Madison. The team earned a split in the two games and has now lost three of its last four since putting together its third three-game win streak of the season.
On Tuesday, the Terps scored runs in the second, third and fourth innings to come away with a 3-2 win. On Wednesday, JMU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning and led throughout, winning 6-4.
With 10 hits in both games against James Madison, the Terp offense continued to roll. Truan Mehl, Dan Melvin and Elliot Singletary each extended current team-high hitting streaks to three games, and Matt Maropis seemed to emerge after struggling to start the year. Mehl had two hits on Tuesday and three on Wednesday to move his season total to a team-high 23. Melvin hit his ninth double of the season on Wednesday and was a combined 5-for-8 with two RBI in the two games. Singletary, now the team's leader in slugging percentage (.605) had three hits, three runs and a home run against JMU.
First-time starter Mike Sufczynski looked to be one of the team's primary options in mid-week games, giving up five hits and two runs over 6.0 innings. The redshirt freshman, who struck out four in 2.1 scoreless innings against UMES (3/9), earned his first career win as Maryland went on to win, 3-2.
The Maryland bullpen was outstanding in both games, giving up a combined three hits and no runs in 8.0 innings of work. Going back to the final game of the NC State series (3/13), Terp relievers have given up two runs in 14.1 innings (1.26 ERA) in three games that were decided by two runs or less.
SLUGGING AWAY
Infielders Dan Melvin and Elliot Singletary both continue to rake for the Terps, and both continue to elevate their slugging percentages with extra-base hits. Melvin, the team's doubles leader, is second on the team with a .522 slugging percentage, and has hits in five of his last six games. Last season, Melvin fell just short of Maryland's single season doubles list with 16. This season, he is on pace for 24 doubles, which would place him among the program's single season leaders.
Singletary is slugging .500 this season and is tied for second on the team with six doubles. The senior has also led two games off with a home run and has nine RBI in his last 12 games. Singletary's last eight hits have been for extra bases, and he has found his way on base with four walks and two hit-by-pitches in the last eight games.
CLEM CLOSING IN ON CAREER LEADERS
Senior Chris Clem, a starting pitcher for four years at Maryland, continues to close in on several school career lists. He is fifth all-time at Maryland with 250.1 innings and stands 43.2 innings shy of career innings pitched leader, John Rayne (1989-92). Clem is nine strikeouts shy of ninth on the Maryland career list and four wins shy of sixth place.
LEFTIES ANCHOR TERP BULLPEN
Through 20 games this season, four Terp left-handers have earned run averages at 2.25 or below. Chris Bowen leads that group with a 1.26 ERA, 1-1 record and one save in five appearances. Brett Cecil got off to a red-hot start and is 1-0 with two saves and a 2.25 ERA. Josh Andrews has appeared in long relief, short relief and a spot start, and has responded by giving up just four hits and two runs in 10.0 innings (1.80 ERA). Casey Baron, the team leader in walks-per-nine innings last season (1.27) is nursing a sore elbow, but has given up one earned run in three appearances this year (1.80 ERA).
PALUMBO ADDS SPARK TO MARYLAND LINEUP
Though hitless in his last seven games, freshman Joe Palumbo has been a prototypical nine-hole hitter since making his first start at the Charleston Challenge. Palumbo had a hit in each of his first four starts and got off to a .357 start at the plate, with his approach helping to turn the lineup over and giving Maryland's big bats more opportunities to hit with men on base.
Palumbo has been patient and has stayed within himself at the plate, seeing pitches and hitting the ball where it's pitched. For the year, his scrappy approach has yielded a team-high 11 walks and a .425 on-base percentage.
MEHL DOES IT ALL FOR THE TERPS
In his second year at Maryland, senior right fielder Truan Mehl has blossomed into one of the team's most valuable players, both offensively and defensively. At the plate, he leads the team with 28 hits, 13 runs and six stolen bases and has reached base 11 times via bases on balls (6) and hit by pitches (5).
Defensively, Mehl has been a lockdown defender with the most powerful arm on the team. Twice this year Mehl has made diving catches in one-run games, with the Terps winning each of those games. In Rock Hill, S.C., Mehl made a diving catch with a runner on third and two outs in the eighth inning of a 2-1 win against Western Kentucky. And last week against UMES (3/9), he made another diving grab to end an inning, laying out on a sinking line drive in the Terps' comeback win over the Hawks.
MOORER SHOWS PROMISE IN FIRST CAREER START
After two bullpen appearances, freshman right-hander Ryan Moorer made his first career start in the series finale at NC State (3/13). The 13th round draft choice (Chicago Cubs) showed improved command and development of his secondary pitches. Moorer features a low 90's fastball as well as an improving power curveball and quality change-up. NC State hitters had a difficult time catching up with Moorer's fastball, with his curveball and change-up keeping hitters off balance.
Bobby Ryan BACK BEHIND THE DISH
Senior Bobby Ryan made his first start of the season against UMES (3/9) after working through some personal issues at the start of the year. Ryan is a big, strong player who can take control of a game behind the plate. He is also one of the top catch-and-throw guys in the conference and a player who threw out over 30 per cent of would-be base stealers in 2004.
Ryan has quick feet behind the plate and can throw with a free and easy release from multiple arm angles. Since returning to the Maryland lineup, his reputation alone has slowed down opponents' running games, and his chemistry with veteran starters Chris Clem and Ben Pfinsgraff could pay huge dividends through conference play. Offensively, Ryan has shown an improved stroke and an ability to hit from both sides of the plate. In the series finale at NC State, Ryan recorded his first two hits of the season, including a hard double and run scored in the fourth inning.
SINGLETARY SETTLING IN AT LEADOFF SPOT
Since senior Elliot Singletary returned to action against Virginia Tech (3/4), he has been a starter in 13 straight games. In the last 12, Singletary has hit lead-off and has been just the type of hitter the Maryland lineup has needed. He has reached base in 11 of those 12 games and has had three multi-hit games and two multi-RBI games. He had four extra-base hits at NC State last weekend, including a leadoff home run in the first game of the series - a 15-6 Maryland win.
On top of the offensive production, Singletary has also shown a knack for getting on base and the toughness of a good leadoff hitter. In his last eight games, he has four walks, two hit-by-pitches and a team-high four sacrifice bunts.
INJURY REPORT
Junior OF Justin Maxwell will be out 6-to-8 weeks with a broken left hand, retroactive to March 14 ... sophomore LHP Casey Baron tweaked his throwing elbow at NC State and is day-to-day with the injury ... senior infielder Elliot Singletary has been limited to first base and DH duties since opening weekend due to a right shoulder injury ... junior LHP Michael Meagher is nursing a left shoulder injury, but should be available soon.
