April 11, 2009

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland sophomore Brett Harman delivered career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts and third baseman Mike Murphy homered to move into a tie for fifth place on the school's all-time hits list, but the University of Maryland baseball team dropped a one-run contest, 4-3, to visiting Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at Shipley Field.

Harman allowed only four hits in seven innings, striking out 10 Hokie batters without a walk, but two unearned runs made the difference for Virginia Tech.

Murphy hit a solo home run off Virginia Tech starting pitcher Justin Wright in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Terps (15-19, 4-13 ACC) a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the Terps, the Hokies (20-12, 6-10 ACC) plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning and never trailed again. Harman, who retired the first 11 batters he faced, allowed three of his four hits in succession as Michael Seaborn, Ty Hohman and Buddy Sosnoskie all doubled to left-center field to give Virginia Tech a 2-1 lead. The Hokies added two unearned runs in the inning, taking advantage of a Murphy throwing error.

The Terps got within one in the sixth inning, scoring on an RBI double from right fielder A.J. Casario and an RBI ground-out from Murphy. However, the Terps could not score Casario from second with no outs.

Harman finished the seventh inning, striking out the last five batters he faced, and sophomore Adam Kolarek pitched two shutout innings of relief, but Wright and the Hokies' bullpen held Maryland's offense off the scoreboard to take the win.

Harman fell to 3-4 with the loss while Wright improved to 3-1, allowing three runs in seven innings with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. Brandon Fisher retired the last two batters in the bottom of the ninth for his third save.

Murphy is now tied with Chad Durakis and Scott Patterson for fifth place on Maryland's all-time hits list.

Maryland will attempt to salvage the final game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.

-TERPS-