Feb. 27, 2011
Box Score | Season Stats (PDF)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Maryland received yet another standout pitching performance, this time from lefty Eric Potter, and the Terps completed a three-game sweep of Army with a 3-1 win Sunday afternoon.
Potter went 7 1/3 and allowed just four hits while striking out six and walking two. After giving up a run in the fourth, the senior retired 11 straight to carry Maryland into the eighth inning.
The Terps (5-3) tied it in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Tomo Delp that scored Jack Cleary and took the lead an inning later on Curtis Lazar's RBI single to center field. They added their third and final run in the seventh by loading the bases with one out and getting Delp home from third on a Jake Stinnett groundout.
Lazar, the designated hitter, was 3-for-4 at the plate. Freshman outfielder Charlie White also had a three-hit day while Delp and second baseman Ryan Holland had two hits apiece.
Army (1-5) threatened to tie it in the eighth but Maryland escaped the inning unscathed. Potter recorded the first out of the inning but issued a walk to Brent Peterson, prompting a move to the bullpen for Creighton Hoke. Hoke hit Army's Clint Moore with the first pitch he threw, recorded the second out of the inning with a fly-out and then hit Ben Koenigsfeld with a pitch to load the bases. Chuck Ghysels replaced Hoke and struck out Joey Henshaw to get out of the inning.
Ghysels stayed on to pitch the ninth and earn his first save of the season. Potter (1-0) got the win, while Army starting pitcher Chris Rowley (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on nine hits in 5 1/3.
Maryland's starting rotation of Sander Beck, David Carroll and Potter was excellent for the second weekend in a row. Combined they gave up just four runs in 20 2/3 innings and had 21 strikeouts to eight walks.
"The biggest positive for our club [this weekend] was pitching and defense," said head coach Erik Bakich. "I thought those two areas really, really stood out to me. The starting pitching today from Eric Potter, yesterday from David Carroll and Friday from Sander Beck were all quality starts. All those guys got us well into the game, including Potter getting us into the eighth inning today. That's invaluable."
The Terps are off until a three-game home series with Canisius that begins Friday at 3 p.m.
Notes
- Maryland recorded its first three-game sweep since March 5-7, 2010, when it swept Hofstra.
- Maryland pitching recorded 35 strikeouts and 17 walks over the weekend, but 11 of those walks came on Friday night alone. Army hit just .173 against the Terps in three games.
- Potter lowered his ERA to 1.35. In 13.1 innings he has given up just two runs.
- There was just one home run all weekend - a Brandon Padula homer to left field in Saturday's game.
- Delp has hit safely in seven of eight games.
