Maryland
Quinnipiac
Terps Sweep Saturday Doubleheader from Quinnipiac
2/28/2009 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapins received a pair of excellent starting pitching performances from Scott Swinson and Matt Fullerton, respectively, and senior Gerry Spessard went a combined 4-for-5 with six RBIs in two games as the University of Maryland baseball team swept a Saturday afternoon doubleheader from the visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats.
Maryland outscored Quinnipiac by a combined score of 17-3 in the twin bill, taking game No. 1, 10-2, and game No. 2, 7-1. With Friday evening's 11-10 triumph, the Terps earned the three-game sweep to even their record at 4-4 for the season. The sweep was Maryland's first series sweep since taking three straight from George Washington in February 2007.
The Bobcats (0-3) scored a single run in the top of the second inning of the first game against Swinson and got his pitch count up early. However, Swinson found his groove and did not allow any more runs.
The Terps tied the game in the bottom of the third on an RBI double off the left-field wall by freshman catcher Tyler Bennett. After manufacturing a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead, the Terps blew the game wide open in the sixth.
After five solid innings of work, Quinnipiac starter Andy Mayer was relieved by Kyle Birdsall to begin the sixth. The Bobcats were sloppy in the inning. After a leadoff walk, Birdsall threw late to second base on a sacrifice bunt attempt and then balked runners to second and third with no outs.
Spessard followed with a fly ball to right field for an apparent sacrifice fly, but Joe Poletsky dropped the ball, allowing Mike Rozak to score from third. The Terps went on to add five more runs in the inning. Bennett added a sacrifice fly, Alfredo Rodriguez delivered an RBI single, A.J. Casario added an RBI double, David Poutier tripled in a run and Jensen Pupa added another sacrifice fly. All told, Maryland scored six runs in the inning on only three hits to take a commanding, 9-1 lead after six innings.
Both team later added a run to their totals to account for the final score.
Swinson earned the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. Swinson went 6 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts. Mayer took the loss, allowing three runs in five innings with four strikeouts.
Casario had three hits in the game.
Fullerton made his second start of the week for the Terps in the second game. After tossing three shutout innings to beat Coppin State Tuesday, Fullerton pitched another solid game against the Bobcats.
Fullerton lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on two hits with four strikeouts and no walks to improve his record to 2-0.
The Terps took advantage of a Quinnipiac error to extend the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Spessard launched a two-run home run to right-center field to put Maryland up 2-0 early against Mike Oskandy.
However, Oskandy held the Terps scoreless the next three innings, giving the Bobcats a chance to come back.
The Bobcats finally threatened Fullerton in the top of the sixth, putting runners on second and third with one out. Maryland pitching coach Jim Farr elected to relieve Fullerton for Brett Harman. Harman rose to the challenge, inducing an RBI ground-out, followed by a strikeout to keep Fullerton alive for the victory.
Maryland proceeded to add two runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to two Quinnipiac errors.
Winning 4-1, the Terps put the game away in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs, including a two-run triple by Spessard, adding to his school record for triples.
Oskandy took a tough loss for the Bobcats, pitching seven innings, allowing only one earned run.
Maryland sophomore Adam Kolarek pitched three shutout innings to earn his first career save.
Spessard went 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the second game. The three hits tied a career high and the five RBIs set a new career high.
Terps shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez had a big day offensively, as well. Rodriguez went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader.
Maryland is at Towson Tuesday afternoon and plays host to James Madison Wednesday afternoon.
-TERPS-
