April 20, 2008
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland baseball team had cut a nine-run deficit to three in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the weather would not permit a potential comeback as Sunday's series finale against No. 21 Georgia Tech was called due to rain after an 86-minute delay, giving the Yellow Jackets a 9-6 win after five innings.
Despite dropping Sunday's finale, the Terps (24-18, 7-14) took the series, two games to one, and put themselves right in the thick of the race for an ACC Tournament bid. It was Maryland's first series win against a ranked team since taking two of three from then-No. 6 Clemson last year.
The start of the game was delayed 42 minutes due to rain, but the skies cleared just long enough to get in an official game.
The game was scoreless through two innings as Terps starter Kevin Biringer (Albuquerque, N.M./Bradley University) got out of jams in the first and second innings with double plays.
However, the Yellow Jackets (28-12, 10-11 ACC) got to Biringer in the top of the third.
Luke Murton had a two-run double in the inning and Tony Plagman added an RBI double of his own to account for three of four runs in the frame.
The Jackets built a nice cushion in the fourth with five runs coming across with two outs, the big blow coming on a Brad Feltes grand slam off Adam Kolarek (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville), Feltes' fourth grand slam of the season, putting Tech up 9-0.
Like the first two games of the series, however, the Terps did not go quietly.
Maryland got two runs in the bottom of the fourth when Tech center fielder Jeff Rowland misplayed a Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) single, allowing runners to score from second and first base.
The Terps added four more in the fifth. Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) had an RBI single, Gerry Spessard (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg) had a sacrifice fly, one run scored on a wild pitch and Jowers had an RBI double to center field.
Unfortunately, 9-6 was as close as the Terps could get as heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, rendered the field unplayable.
After about an hour delay, the rain lightened and the umpiring crew made plans for a 4:15 restart, but the rain and lightning soon returned and the game was officially concluded at 4:04 p.m.
Biringer took the loss for Maryland, allowing six runs, five earned, in three innings. Zach Von Tersch pitched all five innings for the Yellow Jackets and improved to 5-2 on the season.
Jowers went 3-for-3 in the game, upping his season batting average to a team-high .359. Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) went 2-for-3 with a double in the game.
The Terps are back in action Tuesday night against Old Dominion and play at Towson Wednesday afternoon. Maryland has won 13 straight non-conference games.
-TERPS-
