COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland baseball team used 11 hits, including two home runs, and a solid performance from its bullpen to edge Liberty, 10-9, at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Tuesday night.
The Terrapins (10-10) received contributions all throughout the lineup, including two hits and two RBIs from freshman Dan Maynard, who was making just his second career start. Sophomore Andrew Green picked up the first win of his college career after an inning of relief.
Liberty took the lead in the top half of the third on Maryland starter Tayler Stiles, but the Terps responded in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore Kevin Smith took Jack Degroat deep on a 1-0 pitch to level the score.
The Flames jumped back on top with a three-run homer in the fourth before a two-run Maryland bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Kevin Biondic reached on a fielder's choice that saw freshman Marty Costes put out at second before Andrew Bechtold walked. Maynard cleared the bases with a double that just hooked inside the left field line to make the score 4-3.
The Terps took the lead in the fifth. Junior Madison Nickens blasted a double to right field before three consecutive walks issued to Nick Cieri, Costes and Biondic brought him home to tie the game. Senior Anthony Papio then sent a flair single to left that plated Cieri.
In the sixth, Maryland blew the game open. Maynard started the rally with a single. Smith then moved Peyton Sorrels, pinch running for Maynard, over to second before Nickens singled and brought him home. Dunn then squibbed an infield single to put runners on the corners.
Cieri's ensuing single plated Nickens, but the junior was put out at second trying to stretch the base knock into a double. Costes then ripped a single off the third baseman's glove to score Dunn.
Costes came home to score after Biondic blasted a 3-2 pitch over the fence in center field to give Maryland five runs for the inning and a 10-4 lead.
Maryland's bullpen effort was solid, led by clean outings from Green, freshman Andrew Miller and sophomore Ryan Selmer. After Liberty scored a run off Hunter Parsons in the eighth, the Flames grabbed four more on Mike Rescigno in the ninth, but the junior ultimately closed out the game.
After his single, Dunn has now reached base in all 20 games while Smith has reached in 18 straight.
Maryland returns to action with its Big Ten opening series at Iowa this weekend. First pitch for Friday night's affair is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.
– Terps –
