May 4, 2011
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TOWSON, Md. -
Towson's Austin Harclerode hit the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning over the left-field fence to break a 2-2 tie and give the Tigers a come-from-behind, walk-off win over Maryland Wednesday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
Leading 2-1 with one out in the eighth, Maryland had been just five outs from victory, but an error prolonged the inning and ultimately led to an unearned run that tied the game.
Towson was in position to go ahead in the eighth, ninth and tenth, but stranded eight runners over that span. The Terps, meanwhile, managed only one base runner over the final three innings - a single by center fielder Jordan Hagel in the 10th - but never seriously threatened to score.
Harclerode, who went 2-for-5 with a walk on the day, ended it quickly with a towering shot to left field that gave Towson (22-21-1) a season sweep in the series.
Both teams finished with seven hits, but Maryland pitchers issued 12 walks on the day and repeatedly worked out of trouble, as Towson left 15 runners on base in the game.
Towson reliever Zach Umberger (2-0) pitched a perfect 11th inning and was credited with the win. Maryland center fielder/pitcher Korey Wacker (2-3), who moved to the mound in the eighth and pitched 2 1/3 innings, took the loss.
Left fielder Kyle Convissar and shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez had two hits apiece to lead the Terps (20-29) offensively. Convissar gave Maryland the lead with a two-run, bases loaded single in the fourth.
The Terps were able to hang on to the lead with clutch plays in the bottom of the fourth and fifth that stranded a combined five Towson runners.
Towson's Steve Rice cut the Maryland lead in half with a RBI single in the fourth, and the Tigers appeared in position to take the lead after loading the bases on a hit batsman and walk with only one out. Terrapin reliever Chuck Ghysels, however, got Brian Wyman to pop out to third base and struck out Dominic Fratantuono on three pitches to end the inning.
In the fifth, another strikeout and an impressive defensive play helped Maryland escape trouble. With runners on second and third with one out, Maryland reliever Jake Stinnett first got Chris Wychock to strike out swinging. That brought up Rice, who hit a hard grounder up the middle that looked like would reach the outfield and bring in a pair of runs. But Rodriguez ranged quickly to his left, made a play on the ball while rolling over and popped up to throw Rice out and end the inning.
In the eighth, Terrapin reliever Charlie Haslup induced the first three batters of the inning into routine plays, but a Terrapin throwing error on a grounder to third base prolonged the inning.
Haslup then walked two batters to load the bases, and Wacker was brought in to face Wyman. On a 0-1 count Wacker came inside with a fastball, but Wyman fought it off and sent a slow roller towards the mound for an infield single that brought in the tying run. Wacker struck out Fratantuono to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Towson nearly ended it in walk-off fashion in the ninth. With runners on first and second and two out, Pat Fitzgerald attempted to score on a single through the left side, but was thrown out at home by Terrapin left fielder Kyle Convissar.
In the 10th, the Tigers again loaded the bases, but Wacker struck out Fitzgerald to end the inning.
Maryland returns to conference play on Friday, when it starts a three-game set with North Carolina at 7 p.m. in Chapel Hill.
