March 27, 2010

Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - No. 6 Florida State jumped out to an early lead and starting pitcher John Gast kept Maryland hitters in check long enough for the Seminoles to take control, as they defeated the Terrapins 12-5 Saturday evening.

The Seminoles scored three runs in the first inning as Maryland starter Adam Kolarek was chased from the game after issuing three walks and allowing two hits. Ian Schwalenberg came on to record the final two outs of the inning and prevent any further damage, but Florida State scored two more in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead.

Schwalenberg hit catcher Rafael Lopez with a pitch to lead off the inning, and Stephen Cardullo reached base on an error. A Mike McGee single brought Lopez home, and Cardullo scored on a sacrifice-fly by James Ramsey.

Eric Potter replaced Schwalenberg in the fourth and retired the first two batters he faced, but a two-out walk proved to be costly. The lefty issued the pass to leadoff hitter Tyler Holt and Cardullo followed with a single through the left side. That brought up McGee, Florida State's home-runs leader, who knocked in three runs with a shot that cleared the left field wall.

Early on, the Terps looked as if they were primed for a big day offensively. David Poutier and Brandon Padula both singled in the first inning, bringing Matt Marquis to the plate with one out and runners on first and third. Marquis hit a first-pitch fastball through the right side, plating Poutier and giving Maryland a 1-0 lead. But with runners on first and second, first baseman Dan Gentzler hit into an inning-ending double-play.

After being shut down by Gast for four innings, the heart of Maryland's order came alive again in the sixth. Alfredo Rodriguez, Poutier and Padula all singled to lead off the inning, with Rodriguez scoring on Padula's base knock. After Matt Marquis flew out, Dan Gentzler doubled to deep center field, scoring Poutier and making it 10-3.

The Terps added two more runs in the seventh on a pair of hits by Mike Rozak and Jon Wilson and a Seminole error, but were unable to do enough damage to get within reach of tying the game.

Kolarek (1-2) took the loss for Maryland (9-14, 2-6 ACC), giving up three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Gast (4-1), who allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3, earned the win for Florida State (18-4, 5-3).

Matt Fullerton made his first appearance of the season, coming on in the sixth with runners on first and third with no outs. Fullerton got Justin Gonzalez to foul-out on his first pitch, then induced Devon Travis into an inning-ending groundball double-play. The sophomore pitched two innings and allowed just one hit - a seventh-inning home run by Tyler Holt.

The Terps and Seminoles conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. RHP umterps.com.