May 3, 2009
Box Score
CLEMSON, S.C. -
Tyler Bennett broke a 6-6 tie with a two-run single in the ninth inning and Mike Murphy homered for the second straight game to lead the University of Maryland baseball team to an 8-6 victory against No. 17 Clemson in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Clemson (32-16, 16-11 ACC) strung together four hits in the bottom of the first inning against Maryland starting pitcher Matt Fullerton. However, Fullerton didn't pitch poorly, as one hit was an infield single and one was a misjudged fly ball to center field. Ben Paulsen drove in the run with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Kyle Parker followed Paulsen with a single through the right side, but Terps right fielder A.J. Casario prevented a second run from scoring, gunning down Jeff Schaus at the plate.
The Terps (23-26, 7-20 ACC) took advantage of some fortunate bounces to take the lead in the top of the second. First baseman Will Greenberg led off with a ground ball to second base. Second baseman Mike Freeman made a diving attempt to snare the ball going to his left, but instead deflected it down the first-base line, allowing Greenberg to reach second with a double.
Greenberg remained at third with two outs when Casario collected his first hit of the series, an RBI single up the middle off Clemson starter Chris Dwyer. Casario then scored when pinch hitter Mike Rozak singled to center field. Rozak hit a bloop single toward shallow center and center fielder Wilson Boyd and Parker in right both charged, but could not make the play. The ball bounced behind the outfielders and Casario was able to scoot home all the way from first.
Like the first game of the doubleheader, Clemson had an answer for the Maryland rally. A critical fielding error by shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez allowed two unearned runs to score off Fullerton, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
The Tigers plated two more runs in the fourth, both coming with two outs. Freeman doubled to deep left to drive in a run on a ball that popped out of the extended glove of left fielder David Poutier. Schaus then scored Freeman with an RBI single.
Murphy hit his second home run of the day in the top of the fifth inning, a two-run shot off Dwyer to bring the Terps within a run at 5-4. The home run was Murphy's 12th of the season and it moved him into a tie for third place on Maryland's all-time home run list. With the homer, Murphy also took sole possession of third place on the school's all-time RBIs list.
Unfortunately for the Terps, the Tigers answered a Maryland scoring inning with a scoring inning of their own for the fourth time in two games. A fielding error by Murphy eventually allowed an unearned run to score when Jason Stolz delivered a two-out RBI single off Maryland relief pitcher Blair Delean.
After giving Clemson three unearned runs through five innings, it was Maryland that benefitted from some sloppy defensive play in the top of the sixth.
With two outs and no one on base, Rodriguez grounded a routine ball to short. Brad Miller fielded the ball cleanly, but Paulsen dropped the throw at first for an error. Designated hitter Jensen Pupa followed with another grounder to short, but this time Miller made an errant throw to put runners on the corners.
Second baseman Matthew Murakami made the Tigers pay for their mistakes, lining a 2-2 pitch from Graham Stoneburner into the right-center field gap, scoring Rodriguez and Pupa to tie the game at 6 with a two-run triple.
Clemson threatened to re-take the lead in the sixth and seventh innings, but this time the Terps' bullpen shut the door, escaping a pair of bases-loaded jams to keep the score knotted at 6.
Still tied heading into the ninth inning, the middle of the Maryland lineup came through. Murphy led off with a single off Tomas Cruz. A failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Greenberg erased Murphy at second base, but Greenberg reached on a fielder's choice.
Poutier followed Greenberg with his second double of the game, a gapper to right-center field to put runners at second and third with only one out, setting the table for Bennett.
The Terps' freshman catcher came through with the hit of the series for Maryland, lining a two-run single to left-center field to put Maryland ahead for the first time since the second inning, 8-6.
With a two-run lead heading into the bottom half of the inning, the Terps brought in closer Dan Gentzler to slam the door on the Tigers. Gentzler allowed a leadoff single to John Nester to bring the tying run to the plate, though.
With Nester at first with no outs, Gentzler helped his own cause with a stellar defensive play. Stolz grounded a hot shot up the middle that looked to have a good chance of getting into center field for a base hit. However, Gentzler snagged the ball out of midair with a quick snap of his glove, turned and fired to Rodriguez at second base, who made a quick throw back to first to turn the 1-6-3 double play.
Rodriguez recorded the final out of the game with a nice defensive play of his own, making a leaping grab of a Chris Epps line drive.
With the victory, the Terps snapped a 23-game losing streak at Clemson. It was also Maryland's third victory against a ranked team this season, also defeating No. 10 Virginia and No. 27 George Mason.
Redshirt freshman Kyle Blackwell pitched two shutout innings to earn the victory for the Terps and improve to 2-0. Cruz took the loss, falling to 2-2.
Gentzler recorded his sixth save of the season, the seventh-best single-season total in school history.
Murphy, Greenberg, Poutier and Bennett all notched two hits for the Terps. Freeman and Schaus had three hits apiece for the Tigers.
The Terps are off until Wednesday when they welcome in-state rival Towson to Shipley Field.
-TERPS-
