March 28, 2006

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins downed the Duquesne Dukes, 13-12, in a slugfest that saw five lead changes on Tuesday afternoon at Shipley Field. Down by four late in the game, the Terps (11-15) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to push ahead for good as they held on for the victory. Sophomore Ryan Moorer (1-0) allowed one hit and one unearned run in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in a winning effort and Brett Cecil came on with the tying run aboard in the ninth to record his fifth save of the year.

After seeing five Duquesne runs cross the plate in the top of the seventh, the Terps found themselves behind, 12-8. A walk to Steve Braun with one down and consecutive singles by Dan Benick and Matt Maropis loaded the bases for the Terps with Nick Jowers coming to bat. With a full count, the center fielder took ball four low, forcing Braun to home plate to cut the deficit to three. The Dukes then called in right-hander Travis Rife out of the bullpen, but the move would not change the visitors' luck one bit. First baseman Gerry Spessard drew another base on balls, plating Benick, and Dan Melvin drove in two more on a double to center to tie the game up. Pinch hitter Jon Greenwich did his job, scoring Spessard on a ground ball to give Maryland a 13-12 advantage that they would not relinquish.

After Moorer retired the first two Duke hitters in the top of the ninth, Cecil entered and struck out Gary Pierpont to end the game.

The Dukes jumped on the scoreboard early off starter Mike Sufczynski. Anthony Manley led off the game with a walk and moved to second on a base hit by shortstop Steve Maiolo. Both runners scored on a double to left center by Aaron Janusey to give Duquesne an early, 2-0 edge.

The Dukes added two more on a two-run homer by Mike Carroll to make it 4-0 before the Maryland bats struck in the fourth. With one away, Melvin, Chad Durakis, Jordan Wilson and Mike Murphy strung together four straight singles, as the Terps pushed two across to slice the Dukes' lead in half.

Maryland would take its first lead of the day in the fifth. After Spessard and Matt Maropis pulled off a double steal with one down, the Terps had men in scoring position for Melvin. The second baseman Pierpont booted a sharp grounder by his counterpart, allowing one run to come in. Two more scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Wilson and subsequent throwing error to put the Terps up one and an RBI double to left by Murphy made it 6-4, Maryland.

Down, 8-7, in the seventh, Duquesne scored five times to assume a late four-run advantage. With men on second and third, the Dukes tied things up on an RBI single by Carroll and went ahead after right fielder Dante Plassio doubled in another run. A three-run double to the corner by the Terrapin bullpen off the bat of Brian Bernardo put the Dukes up, 12-7.

The Terps are back in action tomorrow night when they hit the road to take on Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with lefty Casey Baron expected to start for Maryland on the mound.