March 14, 2013

Game Notes vs. Florida State

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1 (Friday), 6:30 p.m.: LHP Jimmy Reed (2-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. LHP Brandon Leibrandt (4-0, 3.33 ERA)
Game 2 (Saturday), 1:30 p.m.: RHP Brady Kirkpatrick (2-2, 2.52 ERA) vs. RHP Scott Sitz (3-0, 0.39 ERA)
Game 3 (Saturday), 1 p.m.: TBA vs. RHP Peter Miller (3-0, 0.93 ERA)

Scouting the Terps

-Maryland begins its 2013 home ACC schedule with a visit from 12th-ranked Florida State this weekend at Bob"Turtle" Smith Stadium. The Terps and Noles are scheduled for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

-After Maryland dropped 2 of 3 games at No. 22 Virginia last weekend, the Terps returned to their winning ways with a 9-3 defeat of Marist on Tuesday. Maryland is unbeaten at home this season (9-0) including weekend series sweeps of Oakland and Princeton. In the Terps' nine home contests, the club has scored 84 runs and is batting .330 with a .465 OBP, while the pitching staff sports a 1.87 ERA.

-Maryland's bats have been particularly active so far this season. The Terps have scored at least six runs in 10 of their 16 games, and have reached double digits three times this season (15, vs. Oakland, 2/22; 10, at James Madison; 2/27; 16 vs. Princeton, 3/2).

-In eight of the past 12 games, Maryland has benefited from one explosive inning and scored at least four runs during that inning. Against Marist, the Terps scored seven runs in the seventh inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit to start the inning. The fifth and the seventh have been the Terps' prime offensive innings. Maryland has scored a combined 44 of their 108 total runs between those two innings (40.7%).

-The Terps have been one of the most aggressive teams in the country on the bases. Maryland is fifth nationally and leads the ACC in stolen bases with 48. The Terrapins are averaging 3.00 stolen bases per game, which also ranks fifth nationally.

-Maryland's bats have been finding the gaps in the outfield to start the season. The Terps have 37 doubles, which ranks third in the conference and is tied for 20th nationally. Jordan Hagel and Charlie White each have five doubles and are tied for the team lead.

-Since going 0-for-3 in the season opener at LSU, White has reached base in 15 straight games, the longest streak on the club. The sophomore also leads the team with nine multi-hit games.

-White has been the focal point of Maryland's running game so far this season. White has an ACC-best 18 stolen bases, which is tied for second in the nation, heading into the weekend. He stole four in game one of a Friday doubleheader against Oakland (2/22) becoming the first player to do that since 1998 (Larry Long vs. Howard 4/15/98).

-Through 16 games, White leads the team in hitting (.407), slugging percentage (.500), OBP (.556), hits (22), and stolen bases (18). Kyle Convissar has a team-best 15 RBI. Hagel and Blake Schmit are tied for the team lead in home runs (1) and Schmit is tied with White for the team lead in runs scored (16).

Scouting the Seminoles

-Florida State enters the weekend series as one of the four remaining unbeaten teams in the country (Dartmouth 3-0, North Carolina 14-0, Oregon State 15-0). Florida State swept its ACC-opening series against Boston College, and defeated in-state rival Florida on Tuesday.

-This weekend's series marks the first weekend road trip of the season for FSU. The Seminoles played their first 15 games at home before traveling to Gainesville on Tuesday.

-The Noles lead the nation in doubles (46), are ranked second in OBP (.446), and are ranked sixth in scoring (8.9). Defensively, Florida State has the top-ranked pitching staff in the ACC based on ERA (1.62) and is holding its opponents to .190 hitting. In the conference, NC State is the only school with a lower average (.187).

-After giving up four earned runs in his first start of the season, Brandon Leibrandt hasn't given up more than two in his last two starts. Against BC, Leibrandt carried a no hitter into the eighth inning. Saturday's projected starter, Scott Sitz, ranks second in the ACC with a 0.39 ERA.

-Statistically, Marcus Davis is FSU's most dangerous hitter. Davis is tied for third in the league in HRs (4), ranks fifth in slugging % (.679) and is tied for eighth with 19 RBI.

Military Appreciation Night

Friday night's game is Military Appreciation Night. Maryland staff will be collecting baseball equipment at the gate to send to our troops overseas.

Maryland has donated 200 tickets for Friday's game to the Veteran Tickets Foundation.

Looking Ahead

Maryland continues its nine-game homestand with a midweek clash against James Madison on Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. The Terps welcome Wake Forest to College Park for a three-game series on Friday, March 22.