May 11, 2006
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The rain held back at Shipley Field on Thursday but the Maryland Terrapins did not, shutting out the Coppin State Eagles, 7-0, in their 2006 season finale. Each member of the Terps' five-man senior class contributed to the victory, which gave the squad a perfect 13-0 record in non-conference home games for the year.
Making the last start of his collegiate career, senior Ben Pfinsgraff (3-7) was magnificent on the mound, striking out four and walking none while yielding four hits over seven scoreless innings. He threw one pitch in the top of the eighth (a strike) before leaving to a standing ovation in favor of classmate Seth Overbey, who would leave his mark, as well. With one perfect inning of work, the right-hander from Waldorf, Md. set a new single season Terrapin record with his 29th appearance of the year.
Coppin State used a total of five pitchers, with starter Bill Auch (3-7) taking the loss after surrendering three runs and four hits in four innings.
The Terp seniors did their part on offense, as well. First baseman Jason Von Behren led the way, going 2-for-4 with a mammoth home run and a season-best four RBI. Designated hitter Jordan Wilson went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and rightfielder Matt Maropis finished 1-for-3 with a walk. Also for Maryland, freshman Dan Benick went 2-for-4 with three RBI and his fifth home run in the last eight games and Mike Murphy was 3-for-3 including a double.
After two first-inning errors by Coppin St. led to the first Terrapin run, Maryland made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Following a leadoff homer to center by Benick, Wilson walked and Murphy singled. With two down, Von Behren delivered with an RBI single to left to make it a three-run game.
In the fifth, Benick doubled, stole third and then scored on a Dan Melvin base hit before Maryland blew the game open with three runs in the sixth.
Wilson started things off with a single and moved to third on a double by Murphy. Working the count full after falling behind, 0-2, Von Behren then smashed a 437-foot home run onto the roof of the Varsity Team House to expand the lead to seven.
The bullpen did its part to seal the team's second shutout of the season. Joe Zaccaria struck out both batters he faced in the top of the ninth before lefty Taylor Baum, making his first ever appearance as a pitcher, got the last out of the game on a foul pop to catcher Dan Mellies.
The Terps, who played one of the five toughest schedules in all of college baseball, finished the year at 26-30. Seven starting position players return for Maryland in 2007 as well as a number of top options on the pitching staff.
