Maryland
Alabama
Terps Drop Series Finale at Alabama
2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite holding an 8-6 advantage in hits, the Maryland baseball team fell, 5-1, to Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (1-2) grabbed their run in the seventh inning, but were unable to come back on the Crimson Tide. Junior Nick Cieri led the offense with a pair of hits while sophomore Brian Shaffer tossed five innings of two-run ball in his first start of the season.
After a pair of uneventful innings, Alabama struck first in the third. Shaffer hit Chance Vincent, who then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Chandler Avant brought him home with a double down the left field line to make it 1-0 to the Crimson Tide.
Alabama made it 2-0 when Cody Henry singled to center to plate Avant.
Sophomore Kevin Smith grabbed a single to start the fourth, but was cut down after Nick Dunn grounded into a double play. Cieri was then stranded at first after a two-out single.
In the fifth, sophomore Justin Morris nabbed his first hit of the season before reaching third after Vincent committed a throwing error that put Kevin Biondic on second. Junior Madison Nickens was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, striking out to end the inning.
The Terps scored their lone run in the seventh. Senior Anthony Papio singled to center before sophomore Jamal Wade did the same to left. Morris then laid down a bunt that Crimson Tide starter Nick Eicholtz threw wide of the first baseman to score Papio and give the Terps second and third with nobody out.
After a Kevin Biondic strikeout, Wade was caught off third and put in a rundown for the second out of the inning. Nickens then walked, but Smith flew out to end the inning.
Alabama put the game away in the bottom half of the eighth with three runs, highlighted by a Connor Short two-run double.
Maryland returns to action Wednesday at VCU. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the game can be heard live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
– Terps –
