May 2, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Sophomore Will Greenberg lined a base hit through the middle to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning, leading the Maryland baseball team to a 7-2 victory over non-conference opponent Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday night at Shipley Field.
The Terrapins (25-24) won their second-straight game as they scored five unanswered runs to take control of the contest, dealing the Hawks (9-37) their third loss in a row and the second in the season series.
Sophomore Brett Jones (1-0) earned his first career victory, pitching two perfect innings with three strikeouts in relief. For the Hawks, starter Tyler Winch (1-6) took the loss after allowing the first four Terrapin runs.
Maryland's offense was led by senior Dan Melvin and junior Joe Palumbo, who each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Melvin brought home the first two runs of the day with his infield single in the third inning. Sophomore Dan Benick added a pair of runs as well in the eighth inning as he homered off the left field foul pole, his first of the year.
The UMES offense was paced by Josh Dean and Derrick Baker, with both recording two hits.
After Melvin's single in the third opened a two-run lead for the Terps, the Hawks worked back into the game, eventually tying it in the fifth on an Eric Gaines single to right. An inning earlier, Justin Hoban scored from second on an error. Both runs were unearned for reliever Tim Kearney, who pitched two innings in relief of starter Ian Schwalenberg. The freshmen combined for four strikeouts while scattering four hits in five innings of work.
Greenberg then put the Terrapins ahead for good in the sixth inning, as he brought home classmate Gerry Spessard, who singled in the previous at-bat, then stole second base.
In the seventh inning, Palumbo gave the Terps a 4-2 lead when he scored on junior Nick Jowers's single. The Terps closed out the scoring an inning later, with three runs in the eighth. Sophomore leadoff man Mike Murphy doubled, then scored on a sacrifice by Spessard, who moved all the way to second after a fielding error by the first baseman.
Benick, who entered the game with no home runs this season, then blasted a pitch off of the left field foul pole and above the fence for his sixth career roundtripper.
Maryland will seek to carry its momentum into a three-game home ACC series this weekend against the No. 2 Florida State Seminoles. First pitch Friday is set for 7 p.m., followed by games at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. In the finale, the Terps will honor four seniors prior to the game as part of Senior Day festivities.
