LYNCHBURG, Va. – The No. 22 Maryland baseball team used a three-run top of the ninth to overcome Liberty 6-4 at the Liberty Baseball Stadium Wednesday night.
The Terrapins (25-10, 8-4) trailed 4-0 after three innings, but were able to rally back for the victory. Zach Morris picked up the win in relief.
After a scoreless first, Liberty got on the board in the second. Clay Keranen's one-out double plated Andrew Yacyk before Dalton Britt's double scored Keranen to give the Flames a 2-0 leads after two.
Keranen struck again in the third. His two-out, two-run single upped the Flames advantage to 4-0 after three.
Maryland scored a single run in the fourth, fifth and sixth to cut into the Liberty lead. In the fourth, junior Jose Cuas walked before stealing second. Freshman Jamal Wade singled him in and the Terps cut the lead to 4-1.
Consecutive singles from LaMonte Wade and Brandon Lowe had the Terps in business in the fifth. A one-out double steal put both in scoring position before Kevin Martir's groundout brought in Wade to make the score 4-2.
In the sixth, freshman Kengo Kawahara came through with a sacrifice bunt that allowed Anthony Papio to score to cut the lead to 4-3.
The Terrapins took the lead with a two-out rally in the ninth. Martir doubled to start the threat before Cuas reached on an error at third base. Papio then slapped a single through the left side to allow Martir to score.
Maryland then scored two straight runs on walks. Kawahara drew his fourth free pass of the game to plate Cuas before Justin Morris drew a walk to score Papio.
Kevin Mooney closed out the ninth to record his fourth save.
Maryland's bullpen was spectacular in relief of starter Bobby Ruse. The combination of Morris Ryan Selmer, Jake Drossner and Alex Robinson threw 5 and ½ innings of no run, three hit relief.
The Terrapins return to action this weekend for a three-game set against national powerhouse Cal State Fullerton. First pitch for Friday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on BTN.
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