Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Maryland baseball team outlasted Gardner-Webb, 1-0, this evening in a 12-inning pitching masterpiece, earning the Terrapins their first win of the 2007 season. The extra innings win is the Terps' first since March 5 last season, when they defeated Duke, 9-8, in 12 innings.

Maryland (1-1) capitalized on an outstanding defensive and pitching effort when, in the top of the twelfth inning, senior Dan Melvin blasted a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Terps a 1-0 advantage. Gardner-Webb (0-2), was unable to respond in the bottom half as preseason All-American Brett Cecil recovered from his rough outing Friday with his first save of the season and 16th in his career, moving him into sole possession of the school's all-time career saves record. Freshman Ian Schwalenberg made his collegiate debut and worked a scoreless 11th frame to earn the win. For the Bulldogs, reliever Webster Beal took the loss despite 4.2 innings of solid work.

Maryland pitching held the Bulldogs to just six hits, with junior starter Ryan Moorer setting the pace, as he pitched masterfully through five innings, allowing no runs while scattering just two hits, and fanning two batters.

Maryland struggled early offensively, as the Terps were held hitless until the top of the fourth inning, when Dan Benick led off with a single to shallow center field. However, they could not capitalize after a double play and a strikeout ended the inning. The following inning, leadoff hitter Gerry Spessard reached base as he was hit by a pitch, but the Terps again could not produce a run.

Moorer exited the game at the top of the sixth, and was replaced by junior Brett Tidball. Tidball put his first two batters on base, but quickly recovered and escaped a jam with three straight outs in the sixth.

Gardner-Webb starter Josh Drewery battled as well, pitching six innings of three-hit baseball before being lifted in the seventh after Spessard and catcher Chad Durakis reached base on consecutive singles. After a pitching change, pinch hitter Jon Greenwich was unable to bring home the first run of the day as he grounded to second base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Tidball was relieved by junior Brad Taylor after one and two-thirds innings on the mound, as he allowed just one hit while striking out one. Taylor, who inherited a runner on first, promptly caught Tyler Johnson looking to end the seventh. On the day, Taylor was superb, allowing just two base runners in 3.1 innings of relief.

Maryland threatened again in the eighth inning, as Nick Jowers reached on a walk then stole second base, but a great catch by Jamaal Kinard in left field robbed Mike Murphy of a hit and ended the half-inning.

In the bottom half of the ninth, Brock Miller reached on a bunt down the first base line, but was quickly picked off on an excellent move by Taylor to end the inning and send the contest to extra innings.

Gardner-Webb reliever Webster Beal began his fourth inning of relief in the tenth and quickly struck out the first two batters he faced, before Steve Braun singled to reach base. A failed attempt to catch Braun leading off first nearly turned disastrous for the Bulldogs as the throw to first sailed over the infielder's head, but the play was ruled dead due to batter interference, as the umpire claimed the ball grazed Jowers's head at the plate. One play later, Braun would be tagged out at second on a failed stolen base attempt to end the inning.

Taylor responded in the bottom half with a perfect inning, striking out the first batter before retiring the next two to extend the game.

The Terps had a golden opportunity to end the game in the 11th inning as Jowers was issued a leadoff walk, then moved all the way to third on a Joe Palumbo sacrifice bunt and a Murphy fielder's choice. However, with the go-ahead run standing 90 feet away, Benick could not convert as he flew out to right to end the inning.

Replacing Taylor in the 11th was the newcomer Schwalenberg, who saw his first action in a Maryland uniform and succeeded in the toughest of circumstances. After two quick outs, Schwalenberg allowed a single to left field, followed by a walk to put the winning run at second base. However, he got Nate MacDonald to swing at strike three and escaped the inning unscathed.

Melvin, the leadoff hitter, wasted no time in the 12th as he took a pitch deep to left-center field to give Maryland the lead, putting up the only run of the day on the board. Two batters later, Durakis doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, but did not cross the plate as two straight outs ended the inning.

Cecil, who had an inauspicious debut on Friday as he took the loss to Winthrop, quickly fanned the first two batters he faced in the 12th before allowing a runner. However, Jonathan Ahearn grounded to Braun to seal the victory.

Maryland will seek its second win of the year as it faces Creighton in the first game of the final day of the Winthrop Challenge. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.