Baseball to Open 2009 Season this Weekend at UNC Wilmington
2/17/2009 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After winning 30 games last season, the University of Maryland baseball team will take its first steps toward improving on that mark this weekend when the Terrapins travel to UNC Wilmington for a season-opening three-game series.
The season officially kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday and continues at 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale. Video of Friday's game will be streamed live on the Internet at no charge. WMUCSports.com will provide live radio coverage of all three games.
Sophomore Brett Harman will start on the mound Friday for the Terps against Daniel Cropper, a 2007 freshman all-American who redshirted in 2008. The Terps will choose between left-handers Eric Potter and Adam Kolarek for Saturday's game, with Seth Frankoff taking the mound for the Seahawks. Junior Ian Schwalenberg will start Sunday's game for the Terps and will be opposed by Jesse Haney.
Maryland's lineup will showcase a lot of talented newcomers, especially in the infield. First base will be manned by the duo of freshman Zack Helgeson and sophomore Curtis Lazar. The middle infield is brand new with junior-college transfer David Poutier taking over at second base and highly-touted freshman Alfredo Rodriguez manning shortstop. Senior Mike Moss takes over behind the plate for departed four-year starter Chad Durakis.
The lone holdover is senior third baseman Mike Murphy, who belted 13 home runs in 2008 to finish among the league leaders in the ACC.
The outfield returns veteran upperclassmen A.J. Casario, Gerry Spessard, Will Greenberg and Dan Benick. However, freshman Taylor Buran should see plenty of time in left field and add home-run power to the offense.
Senior Jensen Pupa, last year's leading hitter, returns as the designated hitter.
The Seahawks are coming off a banner 2008 season, as well. The Seahawks dominated the Colonial Athletic Association last year, setting a league record with a 25-4-1 mark in the regular season before getting knocked off in the conference tournament. Wilmington went 44-17-1 overall and advanced to the finals of the Cary Regional, where it lost to in-state rival North Carolina.
The Seahawks were picked to finish third in the CAA's preseason poll this year.
The Terps posted an excellent non-conference record in 2008, going 21-5 out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Maryland played at UNC-W early in the 2005 season, taking two of three games from the Seahawks. The Terps lead the all-time series, 4-2.
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