COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior LaMonte Wade and freshman Kevin Smith both notched three-hit games, but the Maryland baseball team fell, 7-6, to Liberty at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

The Terrapins (35-18) were behind 7-4 heading to the ninth inning before putting the tying on second in the inning. Junior Jose Cuas struck out to end the game.

After a couple of scoreless frames, Liberty put up three runs on the board, a Dalton Britt home run highlighting its effort.

Maryland grabbed a run back in the third. Senior Tim Lewis ripped a triple to center field before scoring on a fielder's choice. The Terps loaded the bases with two outs, but junior Kevin Martir grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The teams traded runs in the fifth. After a Liberty tally in the top half, Wade hit a solo shot to right field for his second homer of the season to make the score 4-2 after five.

The Flames plated a another in the seventh before the Terps put two across in the bottom half. Lewis walked before Kengo Kawahara reached on a fielder's choice that saw Lewis putout at second. Wade then walked.

Smith stepped up and slammed a double. Kawahara came in to score, but Wade was thrown out at the plate. Smith scored on a Brandon Lowe triple to make it 5-4 after seven.

Liberty increased its lead to 7-4 in the top of the eighth. Maryland began its threat in the ninth when Kawahara was hit by a pitch. Wade and Smith then slapped consecutive singles to load the bases.

Lowe plated Kawahara on a long flyout to right field. After Martir drove in Wade on a groundout, Cuas was rung up on a 2-2 count to end the game.

Maryland returns to action for a series against Northwestern this weekend.

-Terps-