March 21, 2012

Final Stats | Season Stats (PDF

NEWARK, Del. - Maryland starting pitcher Sander Beck recorded seven strikeouts in six innings of work, but Delaware scored three runs in the third inning and took a 3-1 victory over the Terrapins Wednesday afternoon.

The loss snapped a 13-game non-conference winning streak for Maryland (15-7), which hadn't dropped a non-league game since Feb. 18 at then-No. 14 UCLA.

Beck's seven strikeouts matched a season high, and the senior held Delaware (9-12) to three hits outside of the third inning. But Maryland's offense was unable to generate enough support to overcome the third, when Blue Hens second baseman DJ Long hit a solo home run to open the scoring.

After Long's homer - which was just the third allowed by the Maryland pitching staff all season - four more singles in the inning, three coming with two outs, plated two more runs to give the Blue Hens a 3-0 advantage.

Shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez accounted for Maryland's only run with a solo homer to lead off the sixth, but the Terps stranded two runners in the inning and had just one hit in the final three innings.

Delaware starting pitcher Dan Gatto (1-1) earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five and walking two. Blue Hens reliever Devon Pearson tossed three innings of one-hit ball and was credited with the save.

Beck (3-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season.

The Terps are back in action Friday at 7 p.m. when they open a three-game series at No. 12 Miami.

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