March 21, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland baseball team cruised to a 17-2 victory Wednesday over non-conference foe Virginia Commonwealth at Shipley Field. One week after their 27-0 win against Coppin State, the Terrapins (14-7) came up big in the third inning, scoring nine runs to take an insurmountable lead. Meanwhile, the Rams (11-9) were out-hit 18-6 in the loss.
Junior Brett Tidball (120) picked up his second win of the season after starting and hurling three scoreless innings, while VCU starter Cody Eppley (1-3) was tagged with the loss.
Both teams' offenses started out slowly as no player reached base in the first inning and a half, but the Terps drew first with a two-run second inning. Designated hitter Will Greenberg singled, scoring catcher Chad Durakis and shortstop Dan Melvin to open up a 2-0 lead.
One inning later was where the Terps did the most damage, as Maryland put nine runs on the board to take an 11-run advantage. With the bases loaded, sophomore Gerry Spessard blasted his first career grand slam to center field, his third home run of the year. Second baseman Steve Braun notched the first of his two RBIs when he reached on a fielding error with the bases loaded, as Durakis scored.
Maryland scored twice more with the bases juiced, as third baseman Mike Murphy brought the eighth run of the day home when he was hit by a pitch. The next batter, right fielder AJ Casario, cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple down the right field line, leaving the score 11-0 as the inning came to a close.
VCU cracked the runs column in the fourth inning, when designated hitter Justin Wright reached on an error to bring right fielder John Leonard home. Maryland responded in the bottom half, though, when Greenberg notched his third RBI of the day on a single to left, scoring Durakis. Greenberg finished his day 4-for-4.
The Rams added another run in the top of the sixth inning, when Leonard singled to center field to score shortstop Sergio Miranda. Again, the Terps responded right away with five runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Murphy's three-run home run to left-center field.
Six Maryland pitchers saw time on the mound, with freshman Brett Curll pitching a perfect ninth inning to seal the victory.
Maryland is back in action on Friday when it opens its ACC home schedule, as the Terps host sixth-ranked Clemson for a three-game series. First pitch Friday from Shipley Field is set for 7 p.m.
