Maryland
Duke*
Terps Bounce Back, Beat Blue Devils, 5-3
3/4/2006 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 4, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. - The Maryland Terrapins jumped out early against Duke on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Blue Devils 5-3 at Coombs Field. The Terps (5-7, 1-1 ACC) scored three in the second and two in the seventh as starter Ben Pfinsgraff earned his first victory of the season.
The senior lasted 7.1 innings, allowed three runs on six hits and struck out out a season-high six before being leaving with one out in the eigth. Pfinsgraff (1-2) retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced before running into some trouble in the fifth inning. After striking out the side in the first, the right-hander retired nine of the next 10 Blue Devil hitters, allowing just one runner past first base.
Maryland opened the scoring in the second inning. Third baseman Mike Murphy singled with one out and stole second. He moved to third on a single by leftfielder Wink Nolan to put runners on the corners. After Duke pitcher Jimmy Saris struck out the next batter, shortstop Steve Braun stepped to the plate and brought Murphy and Nolan in on a three-run home run to left, making it 3-0. It was Braun's first homer as a Terrapin.
The Blue Devils pulled even in fifth. Three straight singles to open the inning loaded the bases with none down. After Pfinsgraff enduced third baseman Jeff Blickman into a foul out to first, centerfielder Jonathan Anderson stepped to the plate and drove a three-run double down the leftfield line to tie the game at three.
Neither team would score again until the seventh inning, when the Terps added two more to regain the lead. After Murphy and Nolan got on to start the inning, centerfielder Nick Jowers hit an RBI-double down the leftfield line to make it 4-3 Terps. Braun grounded to short and first baseman Gerry Spessard drew an intentional walk, loading the bases with one out for second baseman Dan Melvin. The junior reached on a fielder's choice to third, knocking in Nolan to give the team a two-run advantage.
Pfinsgraff would face two more batters before being relived by closer Brett Cecil. Enterring with one away in the eigth, the sophomore left-hander threw 1.2 innings of no-hit ball to pick up his third save of the season.
The series finale between Duke and Maryland will take place tomorrow at 1 p.m. Sole possession of first place in the conference is at stake.
