April 24, 2009
Box Score
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
After falling behind 6-0 in the early innings at No. 1 North Carolina, the Terps rallied to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh before falling short against the Tar Heels, 7-4, Friday evening at Boshamer Stadium.
Maryland (20-22, 6-16 ACC) chased reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Alex White with a three-run outburst with two outs in the seventh inning, but could not complete the comeback against the top-ranked Tar Heels (33-11, 14-7 ACC).
The Tar Heels got on the board first, scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. After nearly inducing an inning-ending double play, third baseman Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer to right field off Maryland starter Scott Swinson.
North Carolina increased the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs. Seager struck again, this time with an RBI single and catcher Mark Fleury followed with a three-run home run to right-center field.
Maryland broke through in the top of the fifth to score their first run of the game. Gerry Spessard led off with a single, stole second and later scored on an RBI ground-out by shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez.
Still trailing 6-1 in the top of the seventh, the Terps mounted a two-out rally of their own against White. With two outs and no one on base, Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and Jensen Pupa singled. First baseman Will Greenberg then lined an 0-2 pitch into center field to score Rodriguez.
Third baseman Mike Murphy followed Greenberg and also fell down 0-2 in the count. Murphy got a fastball on the outer-half of the plate, though, and launched what appeared to be a sure home run to right-center field. However, the ball landed directly on top of the wall, popped about 20 feet into the air and landed in the field of play. Pupa and Greenberg scored and Murphy reached on a triple to cut the deficit to 6-4, inches from a one-run ballgame.
Brian Moran came out of the bullpen to relieve White and struck out A.J. Casario to end the inning.
Swinson retired the Tar Heels in order in the seventh, but the Terps could not get anything going in the eighth or ninth.
A stolen base and a fielding error helped the Tar Heels add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-4 lead into the ninth, where Moran retired the side in order.
White earned the win, improving to 7-1. White allowed seven hits and struck out five batters. After his slow start, Swinson found his stride and did not allow an earned run the rest of the way. Swinson got the loss to fall to 3-6, allowing six earned runs in 7 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Moran earned his second save with 2 1/3 shutout innings.
Pupa was the only Terp batter with multiple hits, recording two to continue his late-season surge.
Seager and Fleury each drove in three runs to account for six of the Tar Heels' seven.
The series continues at 6 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on the Internet via ACC Select.
-TERPS-
