Maryland
Georgia Tech
Baseball Upsets No. 3 Georgia Tech, 5-2
3/19/2010 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Dan Gentzler hit two home runs off reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Deck McGuire and Brett Harman delivered his second consecutive splendid start on the mound as the University of Maryland baseball team upset No. 3 Georgia Tech, 5-2, Friday evening at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium at Shipley Field in the first game of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series.
The victory improved Maryland's record to 8-9 and 2-2 in the ACC, while Georgia Tech dropped to 14-2 and 3-1 in conference play. The 5-2 triumph came nearly two years to the day since the Terps' last win against a top-five team. Maryland defeated then-No. 3 North Carolina, 4-2, March 21, 2008.
The Terps jumped on the Yellow Jackets in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to a fielding miscue. Alfredo Rodriguez reached second with one out when shortstop Derek Dietrich dropped a routine pop-up. With two outs, Brandon Padula drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Gentzler.
Employing a patient approach, Gentzler worked the count to 3-1 and got around on a McGuire fastball and launched it over the wall in left-center field for his first career round-tripper.
Gentzler played a crucial role in adding an insurance run in the fourth inning. After reaching on a walk, Gentzler was on second base with two outs and Jon Wilson at the plate. Wilson grounded a slow chopper up the middle and narrowly beat Dietrich's throw to first for an infield single. Running on contact, Gentzler hustled all the way home on the play without a throw, giving Maryland a 4-0 edge.
Four runs were more than Harman would need, as the junior hurler dominated one of the most prolific offenses in the nation. Harman allowed a solo home run to Dietrich in the fifth, but Gentzler added another solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to put the Terps up 5-1 heading into the ninth.
Harman took the mound to attempt a complete-game victory, but a single and triple to start the frame brought head coach Erik Bakich to the mound to remove his staff ace. Harman walked off to a standing ovation and Gentzler came in from first base to close out the game after putting Maryland in position to win with his bat.
Gentzler did his job to perfection, inducing two ground balls and a strikeout to complete the upset win and notch his fourth save of the season.
Harman won his second straight ACC game with his second straight outing that went eight innings. Harman allowed two runs on seven hits in eight-plus innings, striking out eight with two walks to improve to 3-2.
McGuire pitched well in a losing effort, allowing only two earned runs on seven hits in eight innings with six strikeouts and three walks. It was McGuire's first loss, dropping him to 3-1 on the year.
The series resumes at 1 p.m. Saturday with junior Adam Kolarek taking the mound for Maryland against Georgia Tech's Brandon Cumpton.
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