Maryland
UMES (Game 1)
Terps Down Hawks, 5-1
5/10/2006 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 10, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Matt Maropis, Dan Melvin and Jordan Wilson all collected three hits apiece and Brad Taylor dominated in relief as the Maryland Terrapins (24-30) overcame a sluggish start to top the Maryland Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks, 5-1, on Wednesday night in the front end of a doubleheader at Shipley Field.
Third baseman Mike Murphy finished 2-for-3 and Gerry Spessard was 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Terps, who improved to 11-0 in non-conference home games.
On the hill, Taylor tied a career-high with six strikeouts in a season-long 4.2 shutout innings en route to his second win in as many appearances. UMES starter Jason Janeski (2-9) was charged with the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings.
The Terps found themselves trailing early on. Eric Gaines grounded out to short before consecutive doubles by centerfielder Joel Maher and designated hitter Justin Hoban made it 1-0, Hawks in the first.
Maryland tied the score in the bottom of the third. After walking and stealing his team-leading 18th base of the season, Maropis scored all the way from second on a bunt single by the second baseman Melvin to knot the game at one.
UMES was in position to pull back ahead in the fifth before Taylor bailed the Terps out. Entering for starter John Dischert with runners on second and third and one out, the sophomore right-hander struck out the next two Hawk hitters looking to preserve the tie.
In the bottom of the frame Maryland would take the lead, scoring two runs on four singles. Maropis and Melvin began the inning with base hits before Spessard made it 2-1 with an RBI single up the middle off of Janeski. Following a fly out by Chad Durakis, Melvin came in on a Wilson base hit to give the Terps a two-run advantage.
Nick Jowers put Maryland ahead 4-1 on his fifth home run of the year in the sixth inning before Melvin drove in Maropis on a double down the left field line to stretch the lead to four runs.
Taylor was impressive out of the bullpen, rolling through the UMES lineup. He allowed two hits (both singles) and walked just one, lowering his ERA to a team-leading 2.70.
