March 17, 2011
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Boston College (6-8, 0-3) at Maryland (9-8, 0-3)
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday (7 p.m.): RHP Sander Beck (0-2, 4.03) vs. LHP Andrew Lawrence (0-0, 1.69)
Saturday (3 p.m.): RHP David Carroll (3-1, 3.28) vs. LHP Nate Bayuk (2-1, 4.58)
Sunday (Noon): LHP Eric Potter (2-1, 2.84) vs. RHP John Leonard (2-1, 3.08)
Storyline
• Maryland will look to get on track in Atlantic Coast Conference play when it opens the home portion of the conference slate with a three-game series against Boston College this weekend. The Terps struggled offensively at No. 25 Georgia Tech last weekend, scoring just five runs in three games, but tallied a season-high 14 hits in a 10-5 win over Liberty on Wednesday to improve to 8-2 in home games.
• Five Terps had multiple-hit games in the win on Wednesday and in the second inning Maryland had six straight hits before recording an out. Freshman DH Tim Kiene hit his first collegiate home run, a three-run shot to right-center field, and second baseman Ryan Holland had a pair of doubles and three RBI. Alfredo Rodriguez had two hits Wednesday and has hit safely in five of the last six games.
• The Terrapin defense has been consistently good through the first 17 games and it now leads the ACC in fielding percentage (.984). No conference team has committed fewer errors than Maryland (10).
• Though Maryland's three starting pitchers took losses last weekend against the best batting team statistically in the ACC, they have been solid throughout the season. Sander Beck had his best outing of the year against the Yellow Jackets, holding them to a single run on six hits in six innings. David Carroll had allowed just three runs in his three starts prior to last weekend and Eric Potter ranks ninth in the conference in innings pitched (25.1) and 22nd in ERA (2.84).
Follow the Terps Online
• Radio of all three games will be broadcast over the internet at WMUCSports.com. Fans can also follow live stats through www.umterps.com and can get updates via twitter at www.twitter.com/UMTerps.
About the Eagles
• Boston College is 6-8 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, having played one of the toughest schedules in the nation thus far. The Eagles were swept at No. 1 Florida and then-No. 8 Florida State and they have yet to play a home game.
• Andrew Lawrence, a junior lefty, is expected to make his first career start on Friday night. Lawrence didn't pitch his first two seasons - he played a combined 92 games in the outfield - and he has started 11 games in the outfield this season, batting .294. On the mound this year Lawrence has made three appearances and given up one run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings.
• BC will send another lefty to the mound Saturday in senior Nate Bayuk, who has a 2-1 record with a 4.58 ERA. Bayuk pitched entirely in relief his first three seasons and will be making his fourth career start Saturday. On Sunday, right-hander John Leonard (2-1, 3.08 ERA) will start. The senior is the most experienced in terms of starts, with 28 coming into the weekend. Leonard held Florida State to one hit through six innings last Sunday before giving up three runs in the seventh in a no-decision. As a staff, BC ranks last in the ACC with a 6.07 team ERA.
• Freshman center fielder Tom Bourdon enters the weekend as the lone BC starter batting over .300, with 15 hits in 45 at-bats. The Eagles are ninth in the ACC in team batting average (.261).
SERIES HISTORY: Maryland trails the all-time series with Boston College, 5-12. The Terps won one of three at BC last season and will be looking for their first series victory since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2006.
Upcoming
After the series with Boston College Maryland has a pair of mid-week home games against George Washington Tuesday and St. John's Wednesday. The Terps then begin what will be the most challenging portion of the ACC schedule with a trip to No. 7 Virginia March 25-27; followed by a home series with No. 6 Florida State April 1-3; before returning to the road for a three-game set at No. 16 Clemson April 8-10.
