March 28, 2010

Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The University of Maryland baseball team dropped the third of a three-game set with No. 6 Florida State 9-5 Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium.

The Seminoles took a commanding lead by scoring two runs in the first inning and four more in the second. Florida State's Tyler Holt was instrumental, hitting for the cycle, driving in two runs and scoring three.

After Maryland scored two runs in the top of the fifth to make it 6-3, Holt effectively slammed the door. The junior hit a two-run home run as part of a three-run inning that put the Seminoles up 9-3.

Maryland's two runs in the fifth came on a daring squeeze-bunt by Jack Cleary. With Mike Rozak on third and Jon Wilson on second, Cleary put down a bunt that was fielded cleanly by Florida State pitcher Hunter Scantling. Rozak got a good jump and made it home easily, but while Scantling threw to first, Wilson rounded third and raced home, just beating first baseman Jayce Boyd's throw.

Wilson, Zach Fisher and Alfredo Rodriguez each singled in the seventh, sparking a two-run inning that made it 9-5, but Maryland wouldn't score again.

A day after recording three hits and a run in the first inning, Maryland (9-15, 2-7 ACC) again had a promising start. Rodriguez hit the first pitch of the game from Scantling off the foul-pole in left field for a home run. But after that the Terps were shut down for three innings as the Seminoles took a 6-1 lead.

Beck (0-4) was pegged with the loss, giving up eight runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3. The sophomore pitched well in spots - he struck out a career-high seven, including striking out the side in the fourth - but six Seminole runs in the first two innings were too much to overcome.

Scantling (1-1) earned the win for Florida State (19-4, 6-3), pitching five innings and allowing three runs on two hits while striking out one.

Maryland returns home for the first of a five-game homestand when VCU comes to College Park Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.