Maryland
Jacksonville
Maryland Falls, 2-0, To Dolphins
2/24/2006 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - The Maryland Terrapins lost their series opener with Jacksonville, 2-0, on Friday. Starter Brett Tidball allowed just one run on five hits in 5.2 innings, but a lack of run support ensured a loss for the Terps (1-6) and their 6-foot-2 southpaw. Matt Dobbins threw eight innings and struck out seven to pick up his third win of the year for the Dolphins (9-1).
After surrendering two base hits to open the game, Tidball retired the next 12 Dolphin batters he faced and kept Maryland in the ballgame all day. The sophomore cruised into the sixth inning before yielding his only run of the day. Leftfielder Pete Clifford doubled to right-center to lead off the inning and stole third base. With one out, first baseman Gordie Gronkowski knocked a single just over the head of shortstop Steve Braun to score Clifford and give Jacksonville a 1-0 lead. Tidball would last two more batters before being relieved by right-hander Seth Overbey. Entering with one runner on, Overbey struck out the only batter he saw to help the Terps escape with minimal damage.
The Dolphins would add one more run in the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single by Mike McAllister and James Murdock pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save and help secure Jacksonville's seventh consecutive win.
Maryland had several chances to get on the scoreboard throughout the game but was unable to capitalize. In the sixth inning, centerfielder Nick Jowers led off with a walk, then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by the leadoff hitter Braun. Next up for the Terps was Dan Benick, who singled through the left side to bring Jowers to third. After Benick took second a throwing error by the leftfielder, Dobbins intentionally walked second baseman Dan Melvin to load the bases for designated hitter Jon Greenwich. But the junior was unable to bring in any runs, as he grounded into a double play to the third baseman.
Both teams threatened to score in the fifth inning. After catcher Chad Durakis lined out hard to second in the top of the frame, first baseman Gerry Spessard stepped up and hit a double to left, giving the Terps a runner in scoring position with one out. But third baseman Mike Murphy flied to right and leftfielder Wink Nolan struck out as Maryland stayed scoreless through five.
Then in the bottom of the inning, Jacksonville used a walk, sacrifice bunt and bunt single to put runners on the corners with one away. But Tidball got the next two hitters to fly out, keeping the game knotted at zero heading into the sixth.
Tidball was put to the test early on, working out of a jam in the first inning. Following a pair of Jacksonville singles to lead off the game and a sacrifice bunt, the Dolphins had runners on second and third with one down for the cleanup hitter Gronkowski. But Tidball rang the first baseman up on three pitches then got to designated hitter Thomas LePage to fly out to right to end the threat.
TERP NOTES
