Maryland
Coppin State
Baseball Downs Coppin State, 7-1
4/8/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Junior Mike Murphy his third home run in four games and ninth of the season as the University of Maryland baseball team defeated in-state foe Coppin State, 7-1, Tuesday night at Shipley Field. It was the Terps' 10th consecutive out-of-conference win of the season.
The Terps (19-14) were held in check through four innings by Coppin State starter Nick Ericson, but broke through in the bottom of the fifth thanks in part to a pair of Eagles (2-33) defensive miscues.
Dan Benick (Glen Lyon, Pa./Nanticoke) led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout and then third on a passed ball. Shortstop Joe Palumbo (Bowie, Md./DeMatha Catholic) followed with a high fly ball to right-center field, which appeared to be a certain sacrifice fly. However, center fielder Archie Scott collided with right fielder Roman Batista and neither could catch the ball. Benick scored and Palumbo took second on the play.
Second baseman Steve Braun (Granada Hills, Calif./Pierce CC) drove in Palumbo with a single up the middle to make the score 2-0 Terps. The damage, though, was yet to be done. Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) doubled the lead with a two-out, two-run home run to left field. It was Murphy's team-leading ninth homer of the season and his third in the last four games.
Maryland added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by sophomore AJ Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) and a sacrifice fly by Braun.
Sophomore Tim Kearney (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) started on the mound for Maryland and earned his first win of the season. Kearney went five shutout innings and allowed two hits to go with seven strikeouts. Kearney is now 1-1 on the year.
Relief pitchers Blair Delean (Falls Church, Va./George C. Marshall) and Nathan Steelman (Hagerstown, Md./Shenandoah University) made their first career appearances for Maryland. Steelman pitched the final inning, allowing no runs and striking out two batters.
Ericson took the loss for the Eagles and fell to 0-7 on the year.
Casario had a season-high three hits in the game and drove in two runs.
The Terps are back in action at 7 p.m. Wednesday night against Mount Saint Mary's.
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