March 10, 2006

Final Stats

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. - After falling behind by nine early on, the Maryland Terrapins fought back to cut the deficit to two against No. 2 Florida State, but ultimately fell short, 9-7, at Dick Howser Stadium on Friday night. The Terps (6-8, 2-2 ACC) scored four runs in the seventh and three in the eighth during their rally and out-hit FSU, 12-11, for the game.

For the Seminoles, Bryan Henry (5-0) picked up the win after allowing four runs on a season-high eight hits in 7.0 innings of work. The right-hander cruised into the seventh, when he saw his consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped at 27.1 by the Terps. Maryland tagged Henry for a season-high four runs in the frame, chasing him from the game in favor of Brent Marsh. Left-hander Brett Tidball (1-4) was charged with the loss. He yielded seven runs (six earned) on six hits over 3.0 innings.

Florida St. was in control early on, building its lead to seven in the bottom of the third. The `Noles used four singles, two hit-by-pitch and one Terp error to bring six runs across in the inning, boosting their advantage to 7-0. They would add two more in the fourth to give Henry a nine-run cushion heading into the fifth.

That would be all the Florida St. bats would get for the evening, opening the door for Maryland to jump on the board with four runs in the top of the seventh. Following a fly out by first baseman Gerry Spessard to start the inning, second baseman Dan Melvin doubled to center and then scored on a single up the middle by catcher Chad Durakis, breaking up Henry's shutout. After Durakis moved into scoring position on a single by designated hitter Jon Greenwich, third baseman Mike Murphy stepped up and drove a double to the gap in right-center, plating the catcher to make it 9-2 and sending Greenwich to third. Next up for the Terps was rightfielder Dan Benick, who knocked in both runners on a single up the middle to bring the score to 9-4.

Maryland was not finished, as the Terps added three more runs during their next at-bat. With one down, Spessard picked up his second double of the day and Melvin reached on an infield single. Greenwich then stepped up and belted a towering home run to dead center off Henry to bring the Terps to within two at 9-7.

But the Seminoles would not allow the game to get any closer, as Luke Tucker pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his third save of the season.

For the Terps, right-hander Kevin Biringer came on at the start of the fourth inning and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in a career-long 4.1 innings on the hill. A 6-foot-4 sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., Biringer struck out a career-best four batters while allowing his offense to stage its late-game rally.

Florida State wasted little time taking the lead in the first. Leadoff hitter Shane Robinson singled up the middle and advanced to second on a groundout to first base. After stealing third base, he came around to score on a groundball to short to give the Seminoles an early, 1-0 advantage.

Maryland and Florida State will square off tomorrow evening in the second of three games this weekend. Ben Pfinsgraff (1-2, 5.40 ERA) will get the nod for the Terps on the hill while Tyler Chambliss (4-0, 2.17) is slated to start for Florida St.