Maryland
Miami
Terps Bounce Back With 5-4 Upset Victory Over No. 23 Miami
3/18/2007 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2007
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Maryland baseball team rebounded from a tough loss Saturday evening as it took the final game of its ACC weekend series Sunday at Miami, 5-4. The Terrapins (13-7, 3-3) opened up a modest lead for the second game in a row, but unlike yesterday's 4-3 loss, were able to hold on as junior Brett Cecil retired all four batters he faced for his sixth save of the year.
Junior starter Kevin Biringer nearly held the Hurricanes (14-10, 2-4) scoreless through his six and 1/3 inning stint, as he tied a career-high with six strikeouts while scattering four hits. Miami starter Enrique Garcia (1-2) took the loss for the Canes after pitching six solid innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six.
Maryland took advantage of Miami's defensive miscues early in the game, as two errors allowed junior Steve Braun to score the first run of the day in the third inning. Braun reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ryan Jackson, then stole second base and took third on a throwing error by catcher Jason Hagerty in the same play.
Two batters later, freshman AJ Casario continued his torrid performance at the plate when he doubled home Braun. Casario finished his day 2-for-3 with an RBI, and completed a 7-for-11, three-RBI weekend at Mark Light Field.
Neither team scored again until the seventh, as Biringer and Garcia were locked in a pitching duel. In the top of the inning, Braun notched his first of two RBIs as his sacrifice fly to left field scored junior catcher Chad Durakis. Junior left fielder Joe Palumbo doubled to left field in the next at-bat to score sophomores Will Greenberg and Dan Benick, who reached on a bunt single and a walk, respectively.
The Terps' 4-0 lead was short-lived, though, as the Hurricanes responded in the bottom half with three runs of their own. Four straight base hits, including a two-RBI single to left by Hagerty, began the Miami scoring. Designated hitter Roger Tomas added the third run with his RBI base hit, but the inning ended as Hagerty was tagged out in a rundown by third baseman Mike Murphy to preserve Maryland's advantage.
In the top of the eighth inning, Maryland took a 5-3 lead when Braun drew a bases-loaded walk to score senior shortstop Dan Melvin, whose bunt single was the lone Terrapin hit of the inning.
Again, the Hurricanes answered right back with center fielder Blake Tekotte's RBI single to right field, scoring pinch runner Nick Freitas to close the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Cecil entered the game with two outs and was flawless in his outing, inducing a pop-up to Braun to end the inning. After the Terps went down in order in the ninth, Cecil retired all three Miami batters in the bottom half to prevent a come-from-behind victory for the second night in a row.
Maryland hosts Virginia Commonwealth for a non-conference Wednesday tilt at 6 p.m. before ACC foe Clemson comes to Shipley Field for a three-game series next weekend.
