April 20, 2010

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. - Blair Delean held Old Dominion hitless through 6 1/3 innings and Maryland provided plenty of early run support, scoring nine runs in the first four innings, and the Terps held off a late charge by the Monarchs in a 14-9 victory Tuesday night.

Delean (2-1) tied career highs with eight strikeouts and 6 1/3 innings pitched and cruised through the first six frames. He took a no-hitter into the seventh and after retiring the first batter of the inning, issued a walk and a run-scoring triple that ended his evening.

But Maryland was in control by that point, aided by a litany of hits and steals early in the game.

Brandon Padula recorded his team-leading seventh three-hit game of the season and was one of six Terps to have multi-hit games. Dan Gentzler and Jordan Hagel also had three hits apiece, while Tyler Bennett, Zach Fisher and Alfredo Rodriguez had two hits each.

The Terps finished the game with a season-high 19 hits and also added seven stolen bases to complete a season sweep of the Monarchs (16-25).

The Terps had their bats going early as Alfredo Rodriguez and Padula singled in the first inning, giving them runners on first and second with one out. Maryland then executed a double-steal to put both runners in scoring position and Jack Cleary's sacrifice fly to left field brought Rodriguez home, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead.

Maryland (15-24) widened its lead with a four-run second inning that chased Old Dominion starter C.J. Huyett (0-4) from the game after 1 2/3 innings. Dan Gentzler doubled deep to left field and scored on Zach Fisher's single up the middle. After a walk and a hit batsman, David Poutier stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. Poutier laced a two-run single up the middle and Brandon Padula followed with a run-scoring double to give the Terps a 5-0 lead.

Old Dominion scored six runs in the seventh and eighth innings combined, but reliever Ian Schwalenberg induced an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the eighth to preserve the lead.

Pinch-hitter Kevin Tehansky's two-run triple in the top of the ninth, part of a five-run inning, increased Maryland's lead to 14-6 and put the game out of reach.

Old Dominion's John Malbon hit a three-run pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth to bring the Monarchs within five runs, prompting Dan Gentzler to move from first base to the mound to record the final three outs.

Maryland now returns home for a six-game homestand. The Terps host Towson Wednesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming No. 2 Virginia for a three-game series this weekend.