April 8, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For the second straight day, the Maryland baseball team mounted a strong comeback late in the game but could not overcome Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons won the series finale Sunday, 7-5. With the win, the Deacons (18-16, 7-8 ACC) picked up the sweep, the second team to do so against the Terrapins (19-15, 5-10) in 2007.
Deacons starter Charlie Mellies picked up the win in his first appearance of the year, after throwing two shutout innings in a predetermined split. The Terps' Kevin Biringer (2-5) took the loss after allowing all seven runs (six earned) in 2.1 innings.
Second baseman Andy Goff led the Deacons with two RBIs in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. For the Terps, sophomores Mike Murphy and Mike Moss powered the offense, as Murphy drove in three runs with his home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Moss opened the Terrapin scoreboard in the seventh inning with a two-RBI double off the center field wall.
Wake opened the game with three runs in the first inning, as Allan Dykstra started the scoring with his RBI single to center field. Evan Ocheltree notched an RBI on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the second run, while Dan Rosaia doubled down the left field line to plate the third run of the inning.
In the second, the Deacons extended the lead to 4-0 when Dykstra recorded his second RBI of the day on a fielder's choice, scoring Eric Williams.
The Wake Forest bats came alive again in the third inning, adding three more runs. Goff brought home two Demon Deacons with his base hit to center field. Ben Terry then repeated the feat two batters later, scoring Goff.
Maryland shut down the Deacons offense following the third, as freshman Ian Schwalenberg and junior Brett Cecil combined for 6.2 shutout innings in relief. Schwalenberg allowed just two hits in 3.2 innings, while Cecil held Wake Forest to one hit while striking out one batter.
Moss's double in the seventh, just the second Maryland hit of the day, ended the shutout as two Terps crossed home plate. After Steve Braun walked, the Terps had the bases loaded again, but a 1-2-3 double play eliminated the potential third run of the day.
That would come two innings later, when Murphy blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season over the left-center field wall. However, Wake Forest pitcher Eric Niesen stopped the rally by retiring two straight batters to end the day.
Maryland will travel to non-conference foe Old Dominion on Tuesday as the Terps seek a return to the win column. First pitch from Bud Metheny Baseball Complex in Norfolk, Va., is set for 6 p.m.
