May 17, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Brett Harman pitched seven strong innings while Jordan Hagel and Jack Cleary had three-hit games, but Maryland was unable to complete a ninth-inning comeback as No. 19 Virginia prevailed 7-6 in the first of a three-game series Thursday night.

The Terps entered the ninth trailing 7-5, but quickly got within a run when Cleary drove in a run on an infield single after two hit batsmen and a sacrifice bunt. But with runners on the corners and one out, Virginia closer Justin Thompson induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to secure the win.

Maryland, which had rallied from a 4-2 deficit to tie it by scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh, dropped to 31-23 and 9-19 in the ACC with the loss. Virginia improved to 35-15-1 and 17-11 in the league.

The loss spoiled a solid outing by Harman, who was making his final home start. The fifth-year senior moved into a tie for second place on the school's career strikeout list by fanning five to reach 249 in his career. But a two-out rally by the Cavaliers in the fifth was perhaps the most important inning of the game.

Maryland led 2-1 entering the fifth and Harman set down the first two batters of the inning before getting to a 0-2 count on Virginia's Keith Werman. Werman, though, battled back and drew a walk in an eight-pitch at-bat to open the door for a two-run inning.

Consecutive singles by Chris Taylor and Branden Cogswell followed to tie it, and a balk call with runners on first and third brought in the go-ahead run. The call came on a play Maryland has executed to great success this season - with Harman stepping off the rubber and faking to third before turning and throwing to first.

Nonetheless, after Virginia tacked on another run in the sixth to make it 4-2, Maryland rallied.

Cleary led off the sixth with a double and later scored on a wild pitch, and K.J. Hockaday drove in Hagel with a run-scoring single an inning later to tie it.

Virginia answered in the eighth by scoring three runs on three hits, including a RBI single by Colin Harrington and a RBI double by Brandon Downes.

Maryland then got a run back in the eighth - cutting the lead to 7-5 when Hagel drove in Kyle Convissar with a single to center field. But the Terps were unable to get the tying run across an inning later.

Harman (6-4), who faced one batter in the eighth before exiting, took the loss. Virginia's Kyle Crockett (4-2) picked up the win after allowing two runs in 1 2/3 innings, while Thompson picked up his 11th save.

Game two of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m. LHP Jimmy Reed (1-3, 2.85) is scheduled to take on Virginia LHP Scott Silverstein (2-4, 3.86).

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