Terps Set For Pair of Mid-Week Games
4/30/2012 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2012
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland baseball team will look to improve upon its 20-3 non-conference record this week when it plays host to Norfolk State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before traveling to George Mason on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The Terps (28-19) swept a pair of mid-week games from Towson last week to get non-conference wins number 19 and 20, allowing just one earned run in those two games combined. In 23 non-conference games this year, Maryland has held its opponent to two runs or fewer on 17 occasions, including four straight.
Maryland will look to a pair of veteran right-handers on the mound this week, with Charlie Haslup expected to make his first start of the season on Tuesday and Sander Beck slated to start Wednesday.
Haslup has a 4-4 record with a 3.19 ERA this year; in 10 non-conference appearances spanning 20 1/3 innings, Haslup has a 3-2 record with a 1.33 ERA.
Beck, meanwhile, is coming off a career performance last Wednesday against Towson. The senior pitched a career-high nine innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out five to lead Maryland to a 2-1 win. On the year, Beck has a 5-1 record with a 2.27 ERA, including 35 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.
Jordan Hagel had an excellent week offensively in Maryland's five games last week, going 9-for-18 with four doubles. That raised Hagel's season batting average to a team-high .324, a mark that ranks 19th in the ACC.
Matt Bosse went 5-for-11 in three starts, including three home runs and a double for a 1.364 slugging percentage. Alfredo Rodriguez went 7-for-20 (.350), continuing a torrid stretch of hitting in the month of April. Rodriguez has hit a team-high .382 in 18 games this month.
Scouting the Opponents
Norfolk State enters Tuesday's game with a 16-23 record, including 5-9 on the road. The Spartans are led offensively by outfielder Cameron Day, who is hitting .375 in 31 starts including 18 RBIs.
Junior RHP Chris Horne (4-4, 3.06) is expected to draw the start for the Spartans. Horne has made 14 appearances, three of them starts, and ranks second on the team with his 3.06 ERA. His 49 strikeouts in 50 innings are the third most on the team.
George Mason is 30-17 in advance of Tuesday's game against Richmond. The Patriots defeated Maryland in College Park, 7-6, on April 3, and have a 13-6 record at home.
Third baseman Brig Tison leads the Patriot offense with a .357 batting average, while outfielder Dan Shafferman is hitting .322 and first baseman Zach Helgeson has a team-high 10 home runs.
Mason has yet to determine its starting pitcher for Wednesday.
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