March 8, 2009

Box Score

ATLANTA - Senior Jensen Pupa paced five Terrapin batters who recorded multiple hits, but No. 9 Georgia Tech rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat the University of Maryland baseball team, 10-7, Sunday afternoon in Russ Chandler Stadium.

Pupa, who homered during Saturday's contest, went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's series finale. Seniors Will Greenberg and Gerry Spessard, junior A.J. Casario and freshman Alfredo Rodriguez each added two hits apiece, as the Terps outhit the Yellow Jackets, 13-10. Spessard and senior Mike Murphy both tallied a pair of RBIs for Maryland (4-7, 0-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).

But Georgia Tech (9-1, 3-0 ACC), winners of six consecutive games, platted runs in five of its final six at-bats to overcome the Terps' offensive outburst in a game that featured two ties and four lead changes.

Maryland's offense went to work from the get-go, accumulating three runs on five hits during the top of the first inning. Casario led off the game with his team-leading fourth double of the season, and Murphy drove in two with a single up the middle. The Silver Spring, Md., native scored the team's third run of the inning when Spessard knocked a two-out RBI single to center field.

Spessard contributed yet again in his ensuing at-bat, producing an RBI single during the third inning, as Maryland increased its advantage to 4-0.

A Greenberg single during the fourth scored Rodriquez, who opened the inning with a double to right center. Maryland rounded out its scoring in its half of the seventh, when three consecutive walks resulted in a pair of runs.

With the game tied 7-7 during the eighth inning, Georgia Tech's Chase Burnette hit a three-run, pinch-hit home run to account for the final margin.

Junior Dan Gentzler (1-1) took the loss for the Terps after allowing three earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. Mark Pope (2-2) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory for the Yellow Jackets.

Maryland returns to action Tuesday when it plays host to Delaware at 3 p.m. in a nonconference matchup at Shipley Stadium.