May 8, 2009
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Sophomore Brett Harman pitched Maryland's first complete game of the season, tying his career high with 10 strikeouts along the way to lead the Terrapins' baseball team to a 7-4 victory against Wake Forest Friday night at Shipley Field.
Harman improved to 4-5 with the win, allowing four runs on eight hits with only one walk. The complete game was Maryland's first since Scott Swinson closed last season with a no-hitter at Delaware.
Despite Harman's solid outing, the Demon Deacons (21-25, 6-19 ACC) grabbed an early 2-0 lead against him. Right fielder Evan Ocheltree hit a solo home run to left field in the top of the third and shortstop Bentley Heyman delivered an RBI single in the fourth.
Maryland shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez cut the deficit in half with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth and the Terps (25-26, 8-20 ACC) took the lead for good in the fifth.
With two runners on and one out, catcher Tyler Bennett gave the Terps their first lead, delivering a Phil Negus 2-1 pitch into the right-center field gap for a 3-2 Maryland lead.
After two more scoreless innings from Harman, Maryland plated four runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to build a working margin.
With runners on first and second with two outs, Negus was relieved by left-handed pitcher Mark Adzick to face left-handed batter Gerry Spessard. Maryland head coach Terry Rupp countered the pitching change with a pinch hitter, sending right-handed hitter Matthew Murakami to the plate.
Adzick fell behind Murakami 3-0 in the count and the freshman was given the green light. The decision worked out perfectly, as Murakami laced a hard single to center field to plate Will Greenberg.
Ryan McGrath came in to replace Adzick following Murakami's hit, but could not get out of the inning, either. Center fielder Dan Benick turned on McGrath's first offering and perfectly placed a hard-hit double down the third-base line to score Bennett and Murakami, putting the Terps up 6-2. Maryland scored another run in the inning when Benick swiped home from third base when catcher Mike Murray fired to second on Rodriguez's attempted steal.
Wake Forest scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but never seriously threatened Harman. With the tying run on deck with two outs in the ninth, Harman fanned Ocheltree looking on a 3-2 pitch on the inner half of the plate.
Greenberg and Benick led the Terps with three hits apiece, tying their season highs.
Negus was the losing pitcher, falling to 2-5. Negus allowed five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking five.
The second game of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Sophomore Adam Kolarek will start on the mound for the Terps.
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