March 5, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Eric Potter took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, adding to a dominant start to his senior season, and helping Maryland sweep a doubleheader with a 9-1 win over Canisius Saturday afternoon.
Maryland is off to a 7-4 start thanks in large part to its pitching, with Potter and David Carroll at the forefront. Carroll led Maryland to a victory in game one Saturday, going seven innings and allowing two earned runs. Potter (2-0) was even better, striking out six and allowing just one hit.
The senior left-hander has allowed just two earned runs in three starts spanning 20 1/3 innings and lowered his ERA to 0.89. He has put together back-to-back seven-inning outings after allowing one run in six innings in his first start of the year at No. 6 Texas. Combined, Potter and Carroll have pitched into at least the seventh inning in all six of their starts.
"The key is their consistent ability to get us into the seventh or eighth inning of every start," said head coach Erik Bakich. "It's huge because it's a bullpen saver; especially in a doubleheader like today where you think you might have to use a lot of pitchers and they each go long into the game, it's just invaluable. When they do that we can strategize with who we bring out of the bullpen and it certainly helps us create some momentum offensively too."
Maryland's move to the bullpen after Potter exited couldn't have turned out better. Bakich called for freshman right-hander Brady Kirkpatrick, who struck out five of the six batters he faced. The Eugene, Oregon native needed just 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth.
The offense, meanwhile, cranked out nine runs on nine hits. Designated hitter Brandon Padula led the way with a 3-for-5, three-RBI day.
The Terps broke a scoreless tie with a four-run fourth that saw the first five batters reach base safely. Tomo Delp led off with a single, Ryand Holland ripped a RBI double to left field and Padula followed with a RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0. Maryland added two more runs on a fielders choice groundout and a safety squeeze by Jack Cleary.
A five-run eighth broke the game open. Matt Marquis' double to left field scored Charlie White and after a pair of walks loaded the bases, a Canisius error allowed another run to score. With the bases still loaded, Holland drew another walk to force a run in and Padula doubled off the top of the wall in left field for a 9-1 advantage.
The lone run for the Golden Griffins (4-6) came in the sixth inning after Sean Jamieson drew a one-out walk. Brian Burton followed with a sharp grounder that Maryland first baseman Tomo Delp snagged, but his throw to second in an attempt to make a double-play was wide of shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and went into the outfield. Jamieson scored from third on a passed ball two batters later.
Canisius starter Garrett Cortright (1-2) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3.
Maryland plays the eighth and final game of its current homestand against Delaware on Tuesday. First pitch is at 3 p.m. and admission is free.
