April 6, 2008
Box Score
BLACKSBURG, Va. -
Freshman Curtis Lazar made his first-career home run an important one, launching a game-deciding three-run shot in the top of the sixth inning to open up a tie game and drove in another run to lead the Maryland baseball team to a 5-2 victory Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series at Virginia Tech.
With the win, the Terps (18-14, 5-10 ACC) won their first conference series of the season and first road ACC series since last March at NC State.
The Terps scored in the top of the first inning for the third straight game. Second baseman Steve Braun (Granada Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) started things off with a double down the left field line. Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) sacrificed Braun to third and designated hitter Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) drove in a run with a ground-out to first base.
The Terps went up 2-0 in the top of the fourth on another RBI ground-out to first off the bat of Lazar (Stafford, Va./Mountain View).
However, the Hokies (11-20, 1-14 ACC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run inning via RBI singles from Klint Reed and Matt Blow.
After starting pitcher Kevin Biringer (Albuquerque, N.M./Bradley University) worked out of a small jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Terps broke through in the top of the sixth.
With two men on base and one out, Lazar, who was making his second straight start at first base, blasted a three-run home run to right field against Tech starter Andrew Wells. Lazar's first-career homer completely cleared the scoreboard in right field to make it 5-2 Maryland.
The Hokies threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on the corners with one out, but Brett Jones (Dunkirk, Md./Southern) came out of the bullpen and got a ground ball from Anthony Sosnoskie, which Braun scooped nicely and turned into an inning-ending, 4-3 double-play ball to maintain the three-run lead.
Senior Brad Taylor (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) recorded his third save of the season, recording the game's final three outs. Taylor got an assist from shortstop Joe Palumbo (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic), who made a tough, backhand stab with two outs and two runners in scoring position and finished the play with a perfect throw to retire Sean O'Brien for the game's final out.
Biringer earned his third win of the season to improve to 3-1. Biringer allowed two earned runs in a season-high six innings pitched. Biringer allowed two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
Wells took the loss for Virginia Tech.
Center fielder Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic had three hits for the Terps and Pupa added two for his third consecutive multi-hit game.
Maryland put the leadoff man on base in six of nine innings.
The Terps are at home this week with games against Coppin State and Mount Saint Mary's Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
-TERPS-
