May 6, 2009

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A.J. Casario went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs and Jensen Pupa drove in a pair of runs on three doubles to lead the University of Maryland baseball team to a 10-7 victory against Towson Wednesday evening at Shipley Field.

With the win, the Terrapins (24-26) won their 10th straight non-conference game and remained unbeaten against in-state teams this season, sweeping the season series from the Tigers (25-22) in the process.

Scott Swinson got the start on the mound for the Terps, his second midweek start of the year, and the Tigers notched a pair of runs off Maryland's ace in the top of the first inning. Third baseman Steve Yarsinsky drove in a run with a double and Austin Harclerode added a sacrifice fly.

The 2-0 Towson lead would be the last time the Tigers would lead all game. Tigers starting pitcher Nate Curd walked Pupa to lead off the bottom of the first and Casario took a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall for an opposite-field home run, his ninth of the season.

Swinson escaped a bases-loaded jam to escape the second inning unscathed and the Terps plated four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Pupa doubled with one out to put runners on second and third and Casario struck again, singling to center field off Charlie Cononie to plate two more runs. Third baseman Mike Murphy tripled home Casario and scored on a passed ball to put the Terps up 6-2.

The Tigers scored two runs each in the third and fifth innings to tie the game at 6, but the Terps answered immediately.

Pupa drove another double into the left-center field gap to plate Alfredo Rodriguez for a 7-6 Maryland lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Terps tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh. Pupa's third double of the game brought Rodriguez home, a run scored on a double-play ball and David Poutier drove in one more on a double.

Towson scored a single run in the eighth to cut the deficit to three, 10-7, but closer Dan Gentzler shut the door in the ninth. Gentzler retired the Tigers in order in the ninth for his seventh save of the season, tying him for third place on the school's single-season saves list.

Pupa, Casario and Rodriguez scored three runs apiece to account for nine of the team's 10.

Shortstop Gary Helmick went 3-for-5 for the Tigers and Aaron Gabrielian drove in a team-high three runs.

Freshman Sander Beck earned the win for Maryland, improving to 2-0. Sean Bertrand was the losing pitcher, falling to 1-1.

Maryland returns to Shipley Field this weekend for a three-game series against Wake Forest to wrap up Atlantic Coast Conference play.

-TERPS-