Maryland Heads To Jacksonville For Three Game Set

Feb. 23, 2006

TERPS TAKE ON JACKSONVILLE IN FINAL ROAD TRIP BEFORE ACC PLAY

The Maryland Terrapins (1-5) look to get back in the win column this weekend when they travel to Jacksonville, Fla. for a three-game set with the Jacksonville Dolphins. Maryland has never beaten Jacksonville in six tries, including a 12-2 loss in the schools' last meeting on Jan. 20, 1999 at the ACC-Disney Blast in Orlando.

This will be the Terps' final road series before their home opener on Wednesday, March 1 against George Washington. Maryland will then begin Atlantic Coast Conference action in Durham, N.C. where the team will take on Duke in a three-game set from March 3-5. Currently, the Terps are entering the final stretch of a nine-game road swing. Fifteen of Maryland's first 16 contests this season are on the road.

All three games this weekend will be broadcast online by WMUC Sports at www.wmucsports.com. Dave Kosin and Nick Verdarame will be in the booth doing color and play-by-play for each game. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, 6 p.m.on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS

Jacksonville is off to an 8-1 start in 2006 and comes into its series with the Terps riding a five-game winning streak. The Dolphins already own victories over Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Georgia Southern and South Florida. Their only loss of the year was a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Beth-Cookman on Feb. 10 when Jacksonville blew a one-run eighth inning lead to the Wildcats.

The Dolphins are powered by outfielder Justin Young and first baseman Gordie Gronkowski. A junior, Young leads the team in hitting with a .440 average in eight games. Gronkowski, Jacksonville's cleanup hitter, is batting .394 with 7 RBI and a .636 slugging percentage. He is the older brother of Dan (tight end) and Chris (fullback) Gronkowski, who play for coach Ralph Friedgen on the Maryland football team.

Jacksonville's pitching staff currently has a team ERA of 2.11. Starters Matt Dobbins, D.J. Ackley and Kyle DeVries each own two wins a piece, with Dobbins leading the club with 16 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.

Related News

Related Videos

Footer