Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Maryland baseball team could not overcome strong pitching and defense from the University of Central Florida as the Golden Knights took the final game of the weekend series, 4-3. The Terrapins drop to 4-2 on the season, as they fail to complete their first road series sweep since 2004. Jaager Good picks up his first win of the year, while Kevin Biringer takes the loss.

Maryland took its first lead of the day in the top of the second inning, as freshman AJ Casario singled through the right side, scoring designated hitter Chad Durakis from second base. UCF responded in the bottom half, as Kiko Vasquez drilled his third home run in two days to even the score at 1-1.

Sophomore Gerry Spessard gave Maryland a 2-1 advantage with his solo shot to right-center field, the third home run of his career, to lead off the fourth inning. Maryland held that lead until an RBI single from the Golden Knights knotted it up at 2-2 in the bottom half of the fifth. Two batters later, Tyson Auer tripled to right field to give the Knights' their first lead of the series, 3-2. UCF added another run in the inning when an errant pickoff throw by Biringer scored Auer from third base, as the Knights took a 4-2 lead.

Durakis added to his impressive RBI total this weekend when he scored Spessard from second as he sliced a double into right-center field, closing the gap to 4-3. Durakis finished the weekend batting 6-for-12 with five RBIs and a home run.

Brett Cecil entered the game to start the sixth inning, and he was nearly flawless in a rare middle relief appearance. The preseason All-American allowed just one hit in three innings of work after a shaky outing in Saturday's 9-7 win.

Justin Weiss pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save for UCF.

Maryland will look to bounce back next weekend when it opens its home schedule with a three-game homestand against George Washington. First pitch on Friday from Shipley Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.