March 18, 2012

Final Stats | Season Stats (PDF)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland starting pitcher Brett Harman struck out eight in eight scoreless innings, K.J. Hockaday went 2-for-2 with the games only run and the Terps beat No. 4 North Carolina 1-0 Sunday afternoon.

Maryland (14-6, 1-5 ACC) recorded its sixth shutout of the season - it's most since 1972, when it also had six - and improved to 5-3 against ranked teams.

Harman led the way, matching his season high with eight strikeouts, scattering seven hits and stranding seven Tar Heels. The senior, who hasn't allowed an earned run in four of his five starts, improved to 3-1 on the year and lowered his ERA to 1.11.

North Carolina's (16-4, 5-1) Benton Moss (2-1) was also excellent, striking out a career-high 10 in six innings of work, and holding Maryland to four hits.

Hockaday, who is now leading the team with a .343 batting average, sparked a two-out rally in the fourth that proved to be the difference. The freshman worked an eight-pitch at-bat, eventually driving a 3-2 fastball to deep center field for a double. Center fielder Jordan Hagel then followed with a single through the left side on a 1-2 count to plate Hockaday and make it 1-0 Maryland.

That was enough for Harman, who was able to work out of trouble on numerous occasions. After striking out the first two batters in the second, a walk and an infield single put two runners on with two outs. But Harman struck out designated hitter Tom Zengel to end the inning.

Harman also stranded a Tar Heel on third base in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings, using strikeouts to end both the sixth and seventh.

Senior left-hander Korey Wacker followed Harman, pitching a perfect ninth to earn his first save of the season.

The Terps play the final game of their homestand on Tuesday, when George Washington visits Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium for a 6 p.m. matchup.

Notes: Hockaday now has nine multi-hit efforts in 20 games this season ... his .343 batting average will rank in the top 25 in the ACC and top 5 among freshmen when Sunday's games are complete ... Michael Montville had his 10-game hitting streak snapped ... that's the longest hitting streak by a Terp this season ... Kyle Convissar had his 17-game reached base streak snapped ... that's also a team-high ... freshman Andrew Amaro drew the first start of his career, starting as the designated hitter ... Maryland's team ERA is 2.14, still best in the ACC ... time of the game was 2:12 ... attendance was over 1,000 for the second straight day, checking in at 1,009 ... with his eight strikeouts, Harman has 211 in his career, one behind Bob Grossman (1970-72) for ninth place on the school's career list.

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