April 4, 2007
Box Score
TOWSON, Md. - Senior Dan Melvin blasted two go-ahead home runs, including a solo shot in the top of the 13th inning, but the Maryland baseball team could not hold on as Towson edged the Terrapins Wednesday, 7-6 in 13 innings at John Schuerholz Park. The Tigers (12-18) came from behind twice, including a three-run rally in the ninth inning as the Terps (19-12) fell in their second extra-innings contest of the year, snapping a four-game non-conference win streak.
Towson senior righthander Joe Peeler (2-1) picked up the win after pitching the 13th inning. For the Terrapins, reliever Mike Sufczynski (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing the game-tying and winning runs.
The Tigers opened the game with two runs off of Terps starter Brett Tidball, as a single by senior catcher Ryan Schreiter to right field in the first loaded the bases for freshman designated hitter Steve Yarsinsky. Yarsinsky drove in a pair of runs with a hard single to center field to make it a 2-0 game.
Maryland responded in the second inning when junior Joe Palumbo notched the Terps' first hit with his solo home run, closing the gap to 2-1.
The score remained that way for three more innings, until Palumbo tied the game in the seventh inning with his RBI single to left field, scoring sophomore Dan Benick. Melvin then quickly broke the deadlock with a three-run home run to left-center field, scoring Palumbo and pinch runner Brandon Mise, as the Terps took a 5-2 lead.
However, the lead was surrendered in the bottom of the ninth inning, as reliever Brett Cecil allowed three runs to tie the game, but prevented the game-winning run from scoring in regulation. A Nick Natoli run-scoring double, a Terry Gallo RBI sacrifice bunt, and an RBI single by Kyle Skellchock knotted the game up at five, but with two outs, Cecil struck out Schreiter to send the game to extra innings.
It took until the 13th inning for the score to change, when Melvin blasted his second home run of the day. The Fredericksburg, Va., native hit his second extra-innings home run of the season, as he scored the game-winning run on February 10 against Gardner-Webb with his solo shot in the twelfth inning.
The Tigers again found an answer, as Sufczynski's throwing error allowed the game-tying run in the guise of Natoli to cross the plate. After the junior right hander was lifted with runners on first and third base, Mike Conley lined a walkoff single to left center field off freshman Tim Kearney to plate the game-winning run.
Maryland was out-hit by a 18-10 margin in the game, as the Tiger offense was paced by Skellchock, who was 5-for-7 with an RBI. Melvin, Palumbo, and designated hitter Chad Durakis each recorded a pair of hits to lead the Terps, with Melvin's four RBIs a career high.
The Terps will try to bounce back when they host Wake Forest in a vital ACC weekend series at Shipley Field. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
