April 26, 2006
Final Stats
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins (20-25) improved to 9-0 this year in non-conference home games on Wednesday night, downing the Towson Tigers, 8-3, at Shipley Field. First baseman Jordan Wilson went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI and rightfielder Matt Maropis drove in two more for the Terps, who used a four-run sixth inning to pull away.
With the victory, Maryland stays unbeaten at "the Ship" in non-Atlantic Coast Conference matchups in 2006 and has now won 12 straight dating back to last year. The Terps also clinch the season series against the Tigers, taking two out of three from their local rivals.
Reliever Seth Overbey (3-1) earned the win, entering with a tie ballgame in the sixth and throwing two scoreless innings while the Maryland offense surged ahead. Second baseman Dan Melvin went 2-for-5 with an RBI and third baseman Mike Murphy finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Over his last three games, the freshman from Silver Spring, Md. is 7-for-10 with four runs, three steals, two RBI and a homer.
Towson struck first, scoring twice off starter John Dischert in the top of the third. Centerfielder Kyle Skellchock came in on a throwing error by Melvin and Jason Conley picked up a two-out RBI on a single to left to put the Tigers up, 2-1.
Catcher Chad Durakis drove Joe Palumbo in from second on a liner to left to cut the lead to one in the bottom of the frame and Murphy scored on a base hit by Maropis to knot things at two in the fourth.
Maryland jumped on right-hander Nate Curd (2-1) in the bottom of the sixth, pushing across four runs to take the lead. Three straight singles to start the inning by Durakis, Murphy and Wilson made it 3-2, Terps before a Maropis sacrifice fly gave Maryland a two-run edge. Wilson came in with the third Terrapin run of the inning on a throwing error by the second baseman and Nick Jowers brought the lead to 6-2 when he stole third and continued home following a wild pitch from Curd.
Maryland lit up the scoreboard again in the seventh when Murphy, who walked and stole second, scored on a single to center by Wilson with two outs.
After Demetrios Nomikos made it 7-3 on a sacrifice fly in the eighth, pinch hitter Dan Benick doubled and scored on a base hit by Melvin in the bottom half of the frame to bump the Terp advantage back to five.
Closer Brett Cecil sealed the victory in the ninth, striking out the side on nine pitches.
Maryland now sets its sights on the Virginia Cavaliers, who come to College Park for a three-game weekend set from April 28-30. It will mark the final home ACC series of the year for the Terps, who close out their league schedule against Boston College May 5-7.
