May 4, 2007

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Dan Melvin hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season with a three-run blast in the seventh inning, but the Maryland baseball team could not overcome an early deficit as it fell to No. 2 Florida State, 9-3, in the series opener Friday evening at Shipley Field.

The Seminoles (40-7, 18-4) scored all nine of their runs on six home runs, while the Terrapins (25-25, 7-18) responded in the seventh with Melvin's shot to straightaway center field.

Bryan Henry (12-0) notched the victory after allowing three runs on five hits in six innings, while Terps starter Casey Baron (4-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings.

FSU's offense was led by Mark Gildea, who was 3-for-5 with a solo home run. Travis Anderson hit two round-trippers, while Tony Thomas Jr., Ruairi O'Connor and Brandon Reichert also hit home runs.

The Maryland offense was led by Melvin, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs coming on his round-tripper in the sixth. Joining Melvin with two hits were sophomores Mike Murphy and Mike Moss, each with 2-for-4 days at the plate.

Thomas Jr. set the tone of the contest right away, as he took the first pitch of the day over the center field fence. After Reichert's solo shot in the second, FSU plated three runs on Anderson's home run in the third inning.

O'Connor expanded the lead to 7-0 in the sixth with two-RBI homer. An inning later, Anderson hit his second home run of the day, and was followed by a solo shot from Gildea to round out the Florida State scoring.

Melvin ended the shutout in the bottom half of the seventh, as he brought home Murphy and junior Chad Durakis with the home run. Murphy doubled to lead off the inning, while Durakis walked to reach base.

Maryland will look to even the weekend series when it hosts the Seminoles for game two Saturday at 1 p.m. at Shipley Field.