COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland Terrapins host their second series of the year as Lafayette College comes to College Park for a three-game weekend series. This weekend is the final three-game series against non-ACC opponents, as the Terps visit NC State to open conference play next week.
• Maryland swept the George Washington Colonials last weekend at Shipley Field, with a walkoff single on Friday, and then 11-4 and 6-4 wins in Saturday's doubleheader.
• Maryland took two of three games at UCF, winning the first two games in impressive fashion, 16-4 and 9-7, before falling 4-3 in the series finale. In the first weekend of the season, the Terps won two games at the Winthrop Challenge.
• Junior reliever Brett Cecil set a new school record with his 16th career save on Feb. 17 in the Terps' 12-inning win over Creighton, 1-0. Cecil, who set the record for a single season in 2006 with 13 saves, was named to the preseason Clemens Award watch list and All-America second team by Baseball America.
• The Terps opened this season 7-2, the best start in five seasons. Their 5-1 start, prior to the 4-3 loss at UCF, matched the best start since the 1987 season, when they opened 5-1. Maryland's all-time best season start came in 1967, when the team began the year 12-1.

SERIES HISTORY
Maryland trails in the all-time series, 2-3 (.400). The two teams have not met in nearly 45 years, with the last matchup went to the Leopards, 10-9, in College Park on March 28, 1962. The Terrapins' last victory was on May 16, 1939, as they defeated Lafayette 10-6 in College Park.

SCOUTING THE LEOPARDS
Lafayette enters this weekend unblemished, as it has won both of its games this season. The Leopards' offense numbers two players who are perfect at the plate this season. Tom Ambrosole and Tyler Zeronda are 3-for-3 and 2-for-2, respectively. On the mound, the Leopards will start Ted Gjeldum (0-0, 2.57 ERA), Matt Kamine (1-0, 2.57 ERA), and Jeremy Atkins (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

START ME UP
The Terps' starting pitching has been very effective this season, as the starter has gone at least five innings in eight games. In the first weekend of the season, all three starters combined for a total of nine hits, as the Terps won two of three at the Winthrop Challenge. Junior Ryan Moorer had his third straight solid outing as he picked up his second win of the season against George Washington on Saturday. He tossed six innings, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out three. Junior Kevin Biringer earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for his five-inning, one hit performance in the Feb. 18 win over Creighton. He did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, when a leadoff single gave the Bluejays their lone baserunner with Biringer on the mound. In his outing, he notched five strikeouts while issuing no walks.

THAT'S GOLD GERRY! GOLD!
Sophomore first baseman Gerry Spessard has come on strong as the season has progressed, as he shook off a rough beginning to the season and is now among the team's offensive leaders. Spessard shares or holds the outright lead this year in runs scored (10), runs batted in (10), walks (six), and sacrifice flies (two). In addition, his three stolen bases is tied for second on the team, one behind leader Dan Melvin. He played the role of hero this past weekend, when his RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Melvin and gave the Terps a 6-5 victory over George Washington in the series opener. For his career, he has 33 runs batted in.

SHUT DOWN FOR SIX
Juniors Kevin Biringer and Brett Cecil combined for six scoreless innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against George Washington. After an early four-run deficit, the two quieted the Colonials' bats as the Terps mounted a late comeback to earn the sweep. Biringer, making his first relief appearance of the season, entered to start the fourth inning and allowed just one hit in his three-inning outing, while setting a new career high with six strikeouts. Cecil took over in the seventh and was equally effective, as he gave up just two hits in his three-inning stint, earning the win after the Terps' seventh-inning rally. Cecil earned his second victory in as many days after his work in Friday's 6-5 win.