FIU Tops Maryland, 4-1
2/21/2010 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2010
MIAMI - Maryland's pitching staff held FIU in check for much of the day, but the Terps were held to four hits and fell 4-1 to FIU on Sunday in the last of a three-game series at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Maryland received strong performances by starter Sander Beck and relievers Adam Kolarek and Dan Gentzler, but a four-run second inning by the Golden Panthers proved to be the difference in the game.
Beck gave up a single and two walks in the second and Pablo Bermudez's two-out grand slam provided FIU (3-0) all the offense they would need to complete a sweep of the Terps (0-3).
"We have to give FIU credit," said head coach Erik Bakich. "As of opening weekend they're a better team than we are. I think in a few weeks as we continue to improve we could be more competitive with them."
A sophomore right-hander, Beck (0-1) struck out six over four innings while allowing four hits and walking two. Kolarek, who displayed great versatility by playing first base and left field this weekend, came on in relief of Beck to pitch three scoreless innings in which he didn't allow a hit. After starting the game at first base, Gentzler came on to pitch a scoreless eighth.
"I thought Sander, Adam and Dan pitched very well," said Bakich. "Had we been able to get something going offensively, they pitched well enough to keep us in the game. Brett Harman's first four innings on Friday and what they did today was definitely something to build on from a pitching standpoint. Offensively we have to get our bat speed up a little bit and just keep getting better. We have to be aggressive on fast balls and get the defense out of position by applying pressure to run the type of offense we want to."
David Poutier went 2-for-5, but Maryland was unable to produce offensively against an impressive FIU pitching staff. Aaron Arboleya (1-0) gave up three hits in five innings to earn the win and Jorge Marban came on in the ninth to earn the save.
Maryland scored its lone run in the sixth thanks to aggressive base-running. Alfredo Rodriguez led off the inning with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Matthew Murakami. The Terps had the bases loaded after Murakami stole second and Kevin Tehansky reached on an error. A wild pitch from R.J. Fondon allowed Rodriguez to score, but Maryland was unable to further capitalize as Mike Rozak grounded out to end the inning.
The Terps return to College Park for a seven game homestand that begins Friday at 3 p.m. vs. Delaware.
