May 6, 2006
Final Stats
BROCKTON, Mass. - Boston College downed the Maryland Terrapins, 9-4, on Saturday afternoon at Campanelli Stadium. After tying the game up in the top of the fourth, the Terps were unable to deliver with men on base as they watched six straight Eagle runs cross the plate to secure their fate.
Five Maryland players turned in multi-hit performances on the day. Freshman Mike Murphy was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run and first baseman Gerry Spessard went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and his 14th double for the Terps (22-29, 8-21 ACC), who stranded 13 runners on base, including eight in scoring position. Boston College received most of its run production from the top five hitters in the order who combined to go 12-for-22 with seven runs and seven RBI.
Right-hander Ben Pfinsgraff (2-7) picked up the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 13 hits over seven innings. For the Eagles, sophomore Terry Doyle (5-4) yielded three runs and six hits in six innings of work to notch the win while Ted Ratliff closed the game with three strong innings to earn the save.
Boston College ran out to an early 3-0 lead in the first. Johnny Ayers led off with a single, stole second and then scored on an error by Spessard following a Dave Preziosi sacrifice bunt. Catcher Shawn McGill made it 2-0 with an RBI single to right before Eric Campbell drove in the final run on a sac fly.
Held scoreless through the first three innings, Maryland evened things up in the fourth. Following a leadoff walk to Spessard, consecutive singles by catcher Chad Durakis and designated hitter Jordan Wilson loaded the bases with none away. A four-pitch walk to Murphy forced one run in and Durakis scored from third on a fielder's choice by Dan Benick. After another base on balls to Steve Braun, centerfielder Nick Jowers tied the game at three apiece with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Eagles wasted no time taking back the lead, putting up two runs in the bottom half of the frame. Jared McGuire knocked in Ayers, who was aboard after being plunked by Pfinsgraff, to put BC ahead by one. Then, with two away, Preziosi caught the Terp infield playing back and laid down an RBI bunt base hit towards third to make it 5-3. BC would increase its lead to four runs thanks to a two-out, two-run single from McGill in the sixth.
A seventh-inning solo homer by Ryne Reynoso gave the Eagles an 8-3 advantage and Preziosi drove in the final BC run of the game on a single in the eighth off freshman John Dischert.
The Terps scored once more in the ninth off Ratliff but would get no closer. After reaching on an error, Spessard went to third on a Durakis single and came home when Murphy lined a base hit to right. Benick followed with the third Maryland hit of the inning before Braun struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the game.
The rubber match of the series will take place tomorrow afternoon back at Shea Field in Chestnut Hill. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ryan Moorer will get the nod for the Terps in their final Atlantic Coast Conference game of the year against lefty Nate Jeanes.
