Feb. 26, 2006

Final Stats

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. - Nick Jowers scored the winning run in the 11th inning on a wild pitch to lift Maryland to a 4-3 victory over Jacksonville in the rubber match of the non-conference series Sunday afternoon at Alexander Brest Field. Closer Brett Cecil tossed 3.1 scoreless innings and picked up his first victory of the season as the Terps (3-6) won their first series of the year.

With the bases loaded, two down and rightfielder Dan Benick at bat, Jacksonville pitcher Justin Young threw a ball that squirted past the catcher to the backstop. Leading off third base, Jowers broke for home and slid in safely, giving Maryland the lead in the top of the 11th.

Cecil (1-1) shut the door in the bottom of the inning, sending the Terps to their second win of the weekend. After earning a two-inning save in Saturday night's game, Cecil entered with two outs in the eighth and shut the door on the Dolphins.

Mike Sufczynski allowed one run on four hits over 5.1 innings in his first start of the season. He left with the lead in the sixth but did not factor into the decision.

The Dolphins opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. After allowing a leadoff single to leftfielder Pete Clifford, Sufczynski retired the next two batters to bring up Mike McCallister. Jacksonville put on a hit-and-run with their rightfielder at the plate, allowing Clifford to make it all the way home on a single to center by McCallister and put the Dolphins ahead, 1-0.

The Terps fought back to tie the game in their next at-bat. Designated hitter Jon Greenwich led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jowers. After D.J. Ackley issued a free pass to third baseman Mike Murphy, freshman Wink Nolan stepped the plate with two runners on and one down. The speedy leftfielder delivered for Maryland, driving Greenwich in on a single up the middle and knotting the game at one.

Maryland struck again in the sixth. Benick led off with a double to left and Gerry Spessard was hit by a pitch. Next up for the Terps was Dan Melvin, who would single to left. But Clifford misplayed the ball, allowing Benick to round third with no throw and make it 2-1.

Jacksonville scored twice in the seventh inning to reclaim the lead at 3-2, but it would not hold for long. Spessard singled to lead off the eighth inning, then moved to second on a failed pick off attempt by the catcher. After beaning catcher Chad Durakis, Dolphin starter Ackley retired the next two Terp hitters to bring up Jowers. One of the team's hottest hitters, Jowers came through in the clutch with a two-out RBI single to center to tie the game, 3-3.