March 7, 2012

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland's start to the 2012 season now qualifies as it's second-best since 1924.

Behind superb pitching yet again, the 20th-ranked Terrapins beat Navy 4-2 Wednesday afternoon to capture their 10th consecutive victory and improve to 11-1 overall. In the last 88 years the school has had a better start just once - when it opened 12-1 in 1967.

This year's squad will have the chance to match that record when it opens Atlantic Coast Conference play Friday at Wake Forest.

On Wednesday, the Terps got their 11th victory of the year in familiar fashion. Sander Beck (2-0) went 5 1/3 innings and struck out seven, and the trio of Korey Wacker, Charlie Haslup and Jimmy Reed finished it out for the second straight day.

Second baseman Kyle Convissar went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and first baseman Tomo Delp homered to lead the offense. Right fielder Jordan Hagel and third baseman K.J. Hockaday also turned in two-hit games.

Beck kept Navy (5-6) at bay for the first five innings, allowing Maryland to build a 3-0 lead.

Delp led off the third with a solo shot to left field, his first of the season, and catcher Jack Cleary followed two batters later with a double down the left-field line. After center fielder Charlie White drew a walk, Convissar singled to center to score Cleary and make it 2-0 Maryland.

The Terps added another run in the fifth with a two-out rally. Hagel singled through the left side on a full count to keep the inning alive, and Convissar followed with a double to left field that allowed Hagel to score all the way from first.

Navy drew within a run in the sixth, loading the bases on a double by left fielder Brandon Beans and a pair of one-out walks issued by Beck. Wacker replaced Beck and struck out pinch-hitter Josh Moore for the second out, but the next batter, Chance Jones, singled up the middle to score two.

Maryland escaped further damage, however, and added an insurance run in the eighth when Michael Montville led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Alfredo Rodriguez.

Haslup struck out both batters he faced in the eighth and retired two in the ninth before allowing a double and giving way to Reed, who struck out pinch-hitter Grant LaTerza to end the game and earn his ACC-leading fifth save.

Navy starting pitcher Stephen Moore (0-1), who allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3, took the loss.

The Terps open ACC play this weekend against Wake Forest, which has also won 10 straight.