March 19, 2008
Box Score
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -
Junior third baseman Mike Murphy hit two home runs, including a game-tying shot in the top of the ninth inning to lead the University of Maryland baseball to an 8-7, come-from-behind victory against the William & Mary Tribe in Williamsburg, Va. Wednesday evening.
The Terrapins (10-9, 1-5 ACC) trailed 7-6 entering the top of the ninth inning. Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) wasted no time tying the game, however, leading off the inning with a solo home run to left field off Tribe reliever Jeremy Neustifter. Maryland proceeded to load the bases with one out and senior Steve Braun (Granada Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) pushed across the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout to second base, plating pinch runner Dan Benick (Glen Lyon, Pa./Nanticoke).
Freshman Matt Quinn (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) pitched 1 2/3 innings of hitless baseball to earn the win, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the ninth.
Murphy's two home runs were his second and third in the last two games, giving him five on the season and the team lead. The last time a Terrapin hit two homers was April 4 last year when Dan Melvin hit two at Towson.
The Terps grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-run home run to right field by sophomore AJ Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) and an RBI single by designated hitter Bill Rice (Washington Township, N.J./Washington Township).
However, Chris Jensen tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second on a three-run homer by catcher Chris Jensen.
Murphy led off the third with his first of two home runs in the game and the game went back and forth from there.
The Tribe (16-5, 7-2 CAA) took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh on a Ben Guez two-run homer to go up, 7-6, and set the stage for Maryland's comeback ninth inning.
Senior Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) set a career high with four hits for Maryland.
Maryland's pitching staff held Tribe slugger Mike Sheridan hitless, ending his 20-game hitting streak.
The Terps are home this weekend for a three-game series with the fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.
-TERPS-
