Maryland
GEORGIA TECH*
Maryland Falls To Third-Ranked Georgia Tech, 15-4
3/31/2006 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins (11-17, 4-9 ACC) fell to No. 3 Georgia Tech, 15-4, in Friday's series opener at Shipley Field. The Yellow Jackets used a six-run second inning to jump ahead and never looked back.
Tech's Blake Wood (6-2) picked up the win, allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Designated hitter Luke Murton was 4-for-5 on the evening with four runs and four different Yellow Jackets posted multi-RBI games.
For the Terps, first baseman Gerry Spessard and third baseman Mike Murphy each went 2-for-5 and Wink Nolan doubled and drove in two runs in his only at-bat during the eighth inning.
Maryland took an early lead, opening the scoring in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Spessard singled and stole second base. Following a walk to shortstop Dan Melvin, Chad Durakis drove Spessard in on a line drive to right to put the Terps ahead, 1-0.
Georgia Tech made its move in the second inning, putting up six runs on six hits off starter John Dischert (3-3). Three consecutive base hits to start the frame loaded the bases for the Yellow Jackets. Second baseman Mike Trapani singled in one run and Michael Fisher brought in another on a walk to give Tech a 2-1 edge. Third basmean Wes Hodges drove in the Jackets' third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center and, after a single by Whit Robbins, Matt Wieters made it 6-1 on a three-run double off the wall in right.
Tech added one more run each in the third, fourth and sixth innings to take a commanding eight-run lead. After a sacrifice fly and RBI-single by the Yellow Jackets in the eighth made it 11-1, Maryland's resilient bats cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Durakis walked and Murphy and Jon Greenwich singled, giving the Terps bases loaded with one down. Head coach Terry Rupp summoned Nolan to pinch hit for Dan Benick and the freshman came through, doubling down the right field line to bring in a pair of runs. Greenwich would come in to score on a throwing error by the right fielder to make it 11-4.
The Terps will get another shot against Georgia Tech on Saturday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. with right-hander Ben Pfinsgraff scheduled to start on the hill for Maryland against Tim Gustafson.
