April 6, 2012

Final Stats | Season Stats (PDF)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Making his first career start, Jimmy Reed held 17th-ranked NC State to two hits in eight shutout innings, striking out eight in a dominant performance to lead Maryland to a 4-0 victory Friday night.

Reed, who had evolved into one of the conference's top closers this season, had been expected to start on Saturday. But Brett Harman was scratched from Friday's game due to arm soreness, and Reed masterfully stepped in.

The left-handed junior set the tone from the start, retiring the side in order in the first and third innings. His previous long outing came last weekend against Boston College when he went 4 1/3 innings, but he needed just 45 pitches to get through the first four against the Wolfpack.

NC State (20-8, 8-5 ACC) starting pitcher Ethan Ogburn (3-2) made it a pitcher's duel for the first four innings, but Maryland (20-12, 4-9 ACC) was able to break through in the fifth.

Alfredo Rodriguez doubled down the left-field line with one out and then stole third to get within 90 feet of scoring. Korey Wacker followed with a safety squeeze that turned into a hit, driving in Rodriguez and giving the Terps a 1-0 lead.

An inning later, Tim Kiene gave Reed and Maryland breathing room. With two on and one out, Kiene drilled a 3-1 fastball over the right-field wall for his fifth homer of the season.

That was more than enough run support for Reed (1-1), who retired the side in the sixth and never faced more than four batters in an inning. In his eighth and final inning of work, and with his pitch count edging over 100, Reed worked around a walk by striking out two.

Wacker moved from center field to the mound in the ninth and pitched a perfect inning, capping Maryland's seventh shutout this season, its most since 1968. The Terps also improved to 7-5 against ranked teams this year.

Rodriguez and Wacker led the Maryland offense with two hits apiece, and Rodriguez stole two bases to move into a tie for third on Maryland's career steals list with 54.

The Terps and Wolfpack play game two of the series Saturday at 3 p.m. Harman (4-1, 2.38) is expected to start for Maryland, while LHP Carlos Rodon (4-0, 1.49) will take the mound for NC State.

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