Terps and Oakland Set for Four-Game Series
2/21/2013 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2013
Oakland (0-0) at Maryland (0-3)
Fri., Feb. 22 (Noon) | Fri., Feb. 22 (3:30 p.m. Approx.) | Sun., Feb. 24 (11 a.m.) | Sun., Feb. 24 (2:30 p.m. Approx.)
Schedule Change: Due to impending rain on Saturday, Maryland and Oakland will now play a doubleheader on Friday starting at noon and a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Game two and game four will begin approximately 30 minutes after the completion of game one and game three, respectively.
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium (2,500)
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4
Listen Live: WMUCsports.com
Probable Pitching Matchups
Game 1 (Friday), Noon: LHP Jimmy Reed (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Jason Hagel (5-3, 4.34 ERA)
Game 2 (Friday), Approx. 3:30 p.m.: RHP Kevin Mooney (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Jake Paulson, 2.08 ERA)
Game 3 (Sunday), 11 a.m.: RHP Brady Kirkpatrick (0-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. Tim Koons (2-0, 3.10 ERA)
Game 4 (Sunday), Approx. 2:30 p.m.: LHP Alex Robinson (0-1, 12.00 ERA) vs. TBA
Follow the Terps
Audio broadcasts will be available for three of the four contests at umterps.com via Gametracker.
Leading It Off
- Maryland dropped three games at ninth-ranked LSU last weekend to open the season. The Terps played the Tigers tight in the first two contests dropping a 1-0 decision on Friday and a 5-1 decision on Saturday. Saturday's contest was scoreless through 6-1/2 innings.
- The Terps received quality starts from Jimmy Reed and Brady Kirkpatrick on Friday night and Saturday, respectively. Reed, who led the team with a 2.70 ERA last season, scattered six hits over five innings while striking out three and allowing only one earned run. Kirkpatrick kept the Tigers off balance most of the day. He surrendered only two hits over 6-1/3 innings and retired 16 of the first 18 LSU hitters including nine straight at one point.
- Maryland displayed a knack for turning the key double play at LSU. Over the three games, the Terps turned five doubles plays including three in the first game of the series. Second baseman Kyle Convissar and shortstop Blake Schmit showed good chemistry up the middle as the two combined on three of the five DPs while Convissar was involved in all five.
- On Sunday, Alex Robinson became the first Terrapin freshman pitcher to start a game since Brady Kirkpatrick took the mound on May 21, 2011 against Wake Forest. Robinson started his Terrapin career with a bang by striking out the first batter he faced at LSU in three pitches.
- Dating back to last season, third baseman K.J. Hockaday is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. Hockaday registered a hit in each game last weekend along with registering the Terps' first steal of the season and the third of his career. Hockaday stole two bags as a freshman in 2012.
- After opening weekend, shortstop Blake Schmit leads the team in hitting with a .375 BA and runs scored (2). Right-fielder Jordan Hagel leads the team in hits (4) and RBI (2). Left-fielder Matt Bosse made an impact on Saturday and Sunday. The sophomore went 3-for-7 in the two games including a double and currently has a .571 slugging percentage.
Scouting the Golden Grizzlies
- This weekend in College Park will serve as the season opener for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies return six positional players and five pitchers from a squad that finished 25-31 overall year ago, and 15-6 in Summit League action. Oakland finished second in the Summit League in the regular season. The team placed third in the conference tournament.
- The Grizzlies return five pitchers who combined for 12 of the team's 25 wins in 2011 including Summit League All-Tournament team member Jason Hager. Hager went 5-3 with a 4.34 ERA in 64 -1/3 innings with 65 Ks last season. Hager is scheduled to start the first game of the series.
- Offensively, Oakland returns catcher Jake Morton who started 53 games a year ago and hit .274 with 35 runs scored and 13 stolen bases en route to an All-Summit League Second Team honor. The Grizzlies return two of their top-3 hitters in Nolan Jacoby and Mike Carson, but will need to replace All-Summit League First Team member Tim Ryan. Jacoby hit .312 last season, while Carson ranked just behind with a .303 BA.
Looking Ahead
- The Terps travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on James Madison on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. Maryland then returns home for a four-game series against Princeton beginning on Friday, March 1.
