March 6, 2009
Box Score
ATLANTA -
Maryland starting pitcher Scott Swinson struck out a season-high eight batters, but the University of Maryland baseball team dropped its Atlantic Coast Conference opener Friday, 5-1, at Georgia Tech.
The Terrapins (4-5, 0-1 ACC) threatened in the top of the ninth inning, but couldn't pull off the victory.
Georgia Tech (7-1, 1-0 ACC) put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning to strike first. Swinson started the game on fire, striking out four of the first five hitters he faced, including the first two batters of the second. However, Tony Plagman tripled to deep left field and after a hit batsman, Patrick Long hit a sharp grounder up the middle that was snagged on a diving stop by Terps second baseman David Poutier. Unfortunately, Poutier's throw to second was slightly off and Plagman scored. Swinson got out of the jam with a strikeout of Jay Dantzler to strike out the side.
The Yellow Jackets tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third, but with runners on first and second with only one out, the Terps limited the damage with a strikeout-throw-out double play. Swinson fanned Plagman and catcher Mike Moss threw out Luke Murton at third on the play.
Tech increased its lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Dantzler belted a two-run homer to left field with one out.
The Terps mounted two scoring threats against Georgia Tech starter Deck McGuire, but could not come up with a big hit or productive out. Will Greenberg tripled with one out in the bottom of the second, but was stranded as Moss and Dan Benick both struck out to end the threat. Maryland had two on with no outs in the top of the seventh, but Moss grounded into a double play. The Terps eventually did load the bases and force a pitching change, but reliever Zach Brewster got pinch hitter Curtis Lazar to ground out to first for the final out.
Maryland scored its only run in the top of the ninth inning, but was in position to do a lot more damage. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Terps had the tying run in the on-deck circle. However, Gerry Spessard grounded into a 4-6-3 double play on a 3-1 pitch from Mark Pope. Mike Murphy scored on the play, but the potential for a big inning was over. Pope subsequently retired Benick on a ground out to end the game.
McGuire earned the victory, pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits with eight strikeouts to improve to 3-0 on the season. Swinson got the loss, allowing five runs in five innings to fall to 1-2. Pope earned his third save of the season.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Eric Potter threw three shutout innings of relief, striking out three Georgia Tech batters in the process. Poutier, Murphy and Greenberg had two hits apiece for the Terps.
The second game of the series begins at 2 p.m. Saturday with junior Ian Schwalenberg taking the mound for Maryland against Zach Von Tersch.
-TERPS-
