March 12, 2006
Final Stats
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. - The Maryland Terrapins (6-10, 2-4 ACC) lost to No. 2 Florida State, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium, ensuring a three-game series sweep for the Seminoles. FSU (18-1, 3-0 ACC) scored two in the third and two in the fourth and held on for the victory.
Michael Hyde (4-0) gave up two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings en route to the victory and Luke Tucker threw a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save in three days for the `Noles.
The Terps received a strong relief effort from sophomore Brett Cecil, who came on for starter Mike Sufczynski with one on and one down in the third. In a career-long 5.2 innings of work, Cecil allowed two runs on five hits and struck out a season-high six hitters.
Maryland closed the gap to one with three straight two-out singles in the top of the eighth. Second baseman Dan Melvin reached on a base hit up the middle and moved to third on a single to center by catcher Chad Durakis. Batting with two strikes, designated hitter Jordan Wilson hit a high chopper to the third baseman that did not draw a throw, scoring Melvin to make the score 4-3. But the Terps would not get any closer, as Tucker came on in the ninth and retired the side in order.
Maryland opened the scoring in the second inning. With one out, Durakis drove an 0-1 fastball over the fence in left for his first home run of the season. It was the first home run given up by Hyde this year. The Terps put two more runners on base in the inning with just one away but were unable to score.
FSU would counter with the long ball in the third, connecting on back-to-back home runs to take a 2-1 lead. After leftfielder Ryan Straus led off with a home run to left, centerfielder Shane Robinson followed suit with a homer of his own, giving the Seminoles a one-run lead. The Seminoles made a bid to tack on more runs in the frame, as they had men in scoring position with one down. But Cecil struck out Buster Posey and induced Tony Thomas, Jr. into a groundout to end the inning.
After the `Noles scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up, 4-1, Maryland came back in the top of the fifth and cut the deficit to two. After doubling to lead off the inning, shortstop Steve Braun moved to second on a bunt single by leftfielder Wink Nolan and scored when Nick Jowers grounded into a double play, making it a 4-2 ballgame.
Terp Notes:
In the fourth inning, Chad Durakis threw out Shane Robinson attempting to steal second base. It was the first time that the 2005 NCBWA National Player of the Year had been caught stealing in 12 attempts this season.
With a single in the sixth inning, first baseman Gerry Spessard extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Maryland fell to 5-2 in one-run games.