March 16, 2008

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Terps were one out away from winning their first ACC road series in over a year, but instead lost a heartbreaker for the second time of the day, 4-3, to the Demon Deacons without Wake Forest hitting a ball out of the infield.

Up 4-3 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, freshman Matt Quinn retired the lead-off hitter, but an infield single and a hit by pitch put two runners on. Quinn then got a fly ball for the second out and was replaced by closer Brad Taylor (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel).

With runners at second and third with two outs, Andy Goff tied it with a 50-foot infield single when third baseman Mike Murphy's throw was a tad high. Following another hit by pitch to load the bases, pinch hitter Austin Jones hit a ground ball toward shortstop Joe Palumbo (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic), who could not field it cleanly, ending the game.

Maryland (8-9, 1-5) scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning on a Chad Durakis (Cockeysville, Md./St. Pauls) RBI single to left field, scoring Steve Braun (Granada Hills, Calif./Pierce CC), who reached on an error.

The Terps went up 3-0 in the top of the fifth when Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) scored on a fielding error by third baseman Tyler Smith and a Gerry Spessard (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg) RBI single to right field. However, the inning was feet away from being a huge one for Maryland. Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) and Will Greenberg (Gaithersburg, Md./Washington College) followed Spessard with long fly-ball outs, both caught right in front of the left and right field walls, respectively.

Up 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Pupa started to lose his command and Wake (11-6, 4-2) threatened. However, despite two walks and a bases-loaded hit by pitch, the Demon Deacons were held to only the one run. After Adam Kolarek (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) hit Allan Dykstra with the bases loaded to cut the lead to 3-2, Quinn came in with the bases loaded and got Andy Goff to fly out to end the threat.

Maryland flashed some serious leather in the game. Freshman Bill Rice (Washington Township, N.J./Washington Township) robbed Wake Forest of at least one run in the bottom of the first inning with a diving catch in the right-center field gap to end the inning with no runs scoring. Twice, Braun turned a highlight-reel play at second base to rob Eric Williams of a single. In the bottom of the third and seventh innings, Braun ranged to his right to prevent the ball from getting into center field and made a perfect off-balance throw. Pupa fielded his position well, cleanly fielding several choppers back to him.

Pupa helped his own cause at the plate, recording two hits and scoring a run. On the mound, Pupa went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Maryland is back in action Tuesday and Wednesday at Old Dominion and William & Mary, respectively.

-TERPS-