April 17, 2012
Final Stats | Season Stats (PDF)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Using a familiar formula that has led to unprecedented results this season, Maryland received stellar pitching performances from Michael Boyden and Brady Kirkpatrick to record its ninth shutout this season with a 3-0 victory over James Madison Tuesday night.
Six days after Boyden and Kirkpatrick combined for eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over West Virginia that set the single-season school record for shutouts, they produced the same result against JMU.
In the win over the Mountaineers, Boyden went three innings while Kirkpatrick went five. This time around each went four innings, with Boyden allowing three hits and Kirkpatrick surrendering none. Korey Wacker came on to pitch a scoreless ninth as Maryland surrendered just three hits in the game, marking the 13th time this season its allowed five hits or fewer.
Maryland's (25-14) team ERA, which entering the week ranked eighth nationally at 2.72, dropped to 2.64. Since an 8-3 win over Bucknell on April 4, the pitching staff has led the Terps to a 7-2 record, accumulating a 1.93 ERA while holding opponents to a .208 batting average.
On Tuesday, it was the same story. Boyden had four strikeouts, Kirkpatrick had three and Wacker had two; the Dukes (11-25-1) didn't have a hit over the final five innings.
Meanwhile, Alfredo Rodriguez continued to provide the clutch hitting he has much of the season. With two outs and runners on second and third in the fourth inning, Rodriguez roped a 3-2 pitch down the left-field line for a two-run double that gave Maryland all the run support it needed. The senior has a team-high 13 two-out RBIs and is hitting .355 with runners in scoring position.
Jordan Hagel went 2-for-2 and helped account for the game's only other run, driving in Korey Wacker with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Kirkpatrick (3-4), who has allowed just one hit in his last nine innings pitched, earned the win. Wacker was credited with his second save of the season.
James Madison starter Josh Futter (0-2), who allowed two runs on four hits in four innings, took the loss.
The Terps travel to Towson on Wednesday for a 3 p.m. matchup. RHP Sander Beck (4-1, 2.45) will take the mound for Maryland against Towson RHP Mike Volpe (0-0, 9.45).
Follow Maryland Baseball on Twitter
