March 17, 2007
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Maryland baseball team fell prey to a ninth-inning rally by the University of Miami as the Hurricanes defeated the Terrapins, 4-3, Saturday night in game two of the weekend series at Mark Light Field.
Miami (14-9, 2-3 ACC) trailed the entire game but scored four unanswered runs, ultimately concluding with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth, to earn their second straight victory. Reliever Alex Koronis (3-0) notched the win for the Canes.
Maryland (12-7, 2-3), meanwhile, was stunned after building an early advantage on the strength of starter Ryan Moorer's 6.2-inning, two-run performance. Junior Brett Cecil (2-2) took the loss for the Terps after allowing the game-tying and winning runs in the ninth.
The Terps struck first, as Wink Nolan singled in the second inning. Nolan rounded the bases on a groundout, a wild pitch and a passed ball to cross home plate and give Maryland an early 1-0 lead.
Neither team mounted an offensive charge until Maryland plated another two runs in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Dan Benick led off the inning with a bunt single, and then advanced to second on an errant throw by first baseman Yonder Alonso. After junior Steve Braun reached on a fielder's choice bunt, freshman AJ Casario split the middle of the infield for a two-RBI single. Casario finished the day 3-for-4 to pace the Terps offense.
Moorer kept the Canes off the scoreboard until the bottom of the seventh inning, when Kevin Diego's groundout scored leadoff man Ryan Jackson, who doubled to left. After Moorer exited the game, Miami added another run on an RBI single by Roger Tomas, but left the bases loaded as Cecil induced a force out at third base.
Maryland had a chance at its fourth run of the day in the top of the eighth inning, but was unable to cross the plate as senior Dan Melvin was thrown out at home on a steal attempt.
In the top of the ninth, pinch hitter Brandon Mise led off with a single to right field, but was picked off at first in the very next at-bat. Two strikeouts by Koronis ended the Maryland threat in the inning.
Miami led off the ninth with a double by Diego, and he was bunted over to third in the next at-bat. Two straight walks by Cecil loaded the bases with just one out, but the Terps very nearly pulled off the upset despite the situation.
Alonso hit a laser down the right field line and into the glove of sophomore Gerry Spessard, but Spessard was unable to hang on to the ball as the tying run crossed the plate on the play. Finally, Cecil issued his third walk of the day to Mark Sobolewski as second baseman Jemile Weeks advanced to home to seal the victory.
Maryland will try to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon at Mark Light Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
TERP NOTES: Maryland's loss tonight was its first of the season when leading or tied after the seventh inning. The Terps had amassed a record of 12-0 in that situation prior to this evening ... Tonight's game will be replayed in the Washington/Baltimore area at 7 p.m. Sunday on Comcast SportsNet.
