WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Maryland head coach John Szefc notched his 100th career victory at the school as the No. 20 Maryland baseball team used three runs in the ninth to overcome Purdue, 4-3, at Alexander Field Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (30-13, 11-4 Big Ten) were unable to solve Purdue starter Gavin Downs over the first eight innings before plating three runs in the ninth. Freshman Kevin Biondic put down a beautiful bunt to score junior Anthony Papio as the Terps executed a perfect suicide squeeze to score the winning run.
With the win Szefc become the fastest head coach to 100 wins in Maryland baseball history. The Terrapin skipper earned his 300th career win as a head coach earlier in the season.
After two scoreless frames, Purdue took the lead off Maryland starter Jake Drossner in the third. The home team loaded the bases before Kyle Johnson grounded out to first to plate the first run of the game.
In the fifth, the Boilermakers added another run before Maryland plated a run in the seventh. Junior Anthony Papio singled to right before Cuas ripped a double to right field to make the score 2-1 in favor of Purdue.
The Boilermakers retook their two-run advantage in the bottom half of the frame. Brett Carlson's RBI single drove in Harry Shipley to put Purdue up 3-1.
Maryland rallied back in the ninth. Sophomore Brandon Lowe and junior Kevin Martir slapped consecutive singles into left field before advancing a base on a passed ball. Papio was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
The Terps made it a 3-2 game when Cuas walked to score Lowe. Senior Tim Lewis then slapped a single to the shortstop, whose throw home was off the mark. Martir scored to tie the game and Lewis reached to keep the bases loaded with none down.
After a Kengo Kawahara strikeout, the Terps executed as suicide squeeze to plate the winning run. Biondic's bunt gave the Boilermakers no play at the plate and Papio was able to score to put Maryland up 4-3.
Junior Kevin Mooney, who had recorded the final out of the eighth, notched his first win of the season with a spotless ninth to clinch the victory.
Maryland returns to action Tuesday against Delaware. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
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