March 31, 2009

Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Senior Mike Moss went 2-for-5 with a career-high four RBIs on a pair of doubles to lead the University of Maryland baseball team to a 7-3 victory Tuesday afternoon at in-state rival Navy. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Terps and gave them their first non-conference road win of the season.

After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Maryland (12-15) again loaded the bases in the top of the third. Moss, who popped out to end the first-inning threat, came through in the third against Navy starting pitcher Jeff Murdza.

With one out, Moss ripped Murdza's first offering into the left-center field gap, plating Will Greenberg, Mike Murphy and A.J. Casario to give the Terps an early 3-0 lead.

Maryland tacked on a pair of runs against Navy reliever Alec Thomas in the fifth inning. With one out and Casario at second base after an infield single and stolen base, Moss deposited a Thomas pitch into an almost-identical location as his third-inning double, doubling again to plate Casario. Two batters later, Moss scored on center fielder Dan Benick's RBI triple to right-center field.

The Midshipmen (9-15-1) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Kendall Bolt RBI ground-out against Maryland relief pitcher Kyle Blackwell.

The Terps got the run back in the top of the sixth, as Murphy delivered an RBI single with two outs off Navy left-hander Chris Murray. It was Murphy's 125th career RBI, tying him with Craig Munroe for seventh place on Maryland's all-time list.

Casario gave the Terps a 7-1 lead in the eighth inning, slapping an RBI single to left field, barely eluding the glove of shortstop Mike Guadagnini.

Bolt added a two-run double for Navy in the ninth inning, giving him all three of the Midshipmen's RBIs. However Gentzler finished the game without allowing any more runs.

Moss' four RBIs set a new career high and Benick's triple was the first of his career. Benick and second baseman David Poutier both went 3-for-5 for the Terps.

Freshman Matt Fullerton started and earned the win for the Terps, improving to 3-2. Fullerton pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings, striking out four batters and allowing only two base hits.

Murdza took the loss for Navy, falling to 0-1. Murdza allowed three runs in three innings.

Maryland is back home Wednesday evening as UMES visits Shipley Field for a 7 p.m. night game.

-TERPS-