April 10, 2009
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland senior Gerry Spessard went 2-for-4 with a home run, double and two runs scored, but the visiting Virginia Tech Hokies upended the Terrapins' baseball team, 5-3, Friday evening at Shipley Field in the first game of a three-game weekend series.
Virginia Tech improved to 19-12 overall and 5-10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Maryland dropped to 15-18 and 4-12 in the ACC.
The Hokies did most of their scoring in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs against Maryland starter Scott Swinson.
Anthony Sosnoskie doubled off the left-center field wall to drive in a run and two more runs scored on a Mike Murphy throwing error.
Center fielder Steve Bumbry gave the Hokies a 4-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI triple down the right-field line. Maryland right fielder A.J. Casario tried to make the catch on a dead sprint toward the foul line, but couldn't come up with the ball. The ball got behind Casario and Bumbry attempted to turn the triple into an inside-the-park home run, but was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay from Casario to first baseman Will Greenberg to catcher Mike Moss.
The Terps took advantage of the crucial out at the plate, scoring two in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run single to center field by second baseman Matthew Murakami.
Spessard got the Terps within a run with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. However, the Terps would not score again and Bumbry added an insurance run in the seventh with a solo home run off Swinson.
Virginia Tech starting pitcher Rhett Ballard earned the victory, throwing 130 pitches in seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Ballard improved to 4-2 with the win. Swinson fell to 2-5 with the loss, allowing four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Ben Rowen recorded the final five outs for the Hokies to earn his first save.
Mike Murphy went 2-for-4 for Maryland with a double and is now only one hit shy of moving into fifth place in school history.
Five different players had two hits for the Hokies.
The second game of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Shipley Field. Sophomore Brett Harman will take the mound for Maryland while southpaw Justin Wright will pitch for Virginia Tech.
-TERPS-
