Maryland Prepares For ACC Clash With Tar Heels

March 17, 2006

TERPS HEAD DOWN TOBACCO ROAD FOR SERIES WITH UNC

Coming off an impressive 12-2 win over Mount St. Mary's at Shipley Field on Wednesday, the Maryland Terrapins (7-11, 2-4 ACC) will travel to North Carolina for a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference set with the Tar Heels from March 17-19 in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina is one of five teams on the Terps' 2006 schedule that were ranked in the preseason Baseball America Top 25 poll. With a mark of 15-2, the Heels currently sit at No. 4 in the latest edition of the rankings. They are ranked in the nation's top five by several other polls, including the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which has Carolina as the No. 3 team in the country.

Maryland trails the all-time series with the Tar Heels, 50-116-2. The 168 games is the most the Terps have played against any opponent. UNC has dominated the series of late, winning 12 of the last 13 meetings. Maryland's last victory over the Heels came on May 9, 2004, a 3- 1 extra-inning win in Chapel Hill.

All three games this weekend will be broadcast online by WMUC Sports at www.wmucsports.com. Nick Sekkas and Mark Butman will be in the booth calling each game. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS

North Carolina enters this weekend's series with an overall record of 15-2 and a 13-1 mark at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels have won four staight and seven of their last eight games.

Outfielder Jay Cox is leading UNC in hitting with a .492 average, five homers, four doubles, 10 walks and 16 RBI in 17 games. He is slugging .803 and has an on-base percentage of .563. Cox is one of seven starting position players who are batting over .300 for North Carolina.

On the hill for the Heels, Daniel Bard, Andrew Miller and Robert Woodard make up one of the most highly-touted starting rotations in college baseball. The three are a combined 9-0 on the year, led by Miller (0.64 ERA, 33 strikeouts in 28.0 IP) with four victories. Carolina boasts a team earned run average of 3.21, good for fourth in the conference.

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