GREENVILLE, N.C. – Redshirt freshman Andrew Bechtold went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Maryland baseball team to a 10-9 win over Tennessee in game one of the Keith LeClair Classic at Clark-LeClair Stadium Friday afternoon.
The Terrapins (4-4) racked up 13 hits, with all nine starters reaching base. Sophomore Kevin Smith had three hits while freshman Marty Costes and sophomore Justin Morris each had two RBIs.
Maryland opened up the scoring in the top of the first. Smith singled to start the game before moving to second on a Madison Nickens groundout. Costes followed a Nick Dunn walk with a double down the left field line to give the Terps a 2-0 lead.
Senior Anthony Papio then singled to left field before a Kevin Biondic walk that loaded the bases. Bechtold then struck out before Morris worked a walk that plated Costes and gave Maryland a 3-0 lead after one.
Maryland starter Mike Shawaryn worked easy frames in the first and third between giving up a run in the second. Shawaryn ran into trouble in the fourth as the Volunteers tied the game with a pair of runs.
The Terps responded with a five-run bottom half of the fourth highlighted by Bechtold's bases clearing double. Sophomore Zach Jancarski started the inning with a walk before Smith singled and Nickens walked to load the bases. Dunn hit a sac fly to center to score Jancarski followed by a Costes walk to reload the bases.
After Papio worked a walk to plate Smith, Bechtold ripped a 2-0 pitch into left to drive in all three runners and give the Terps an 8-3 lead after four.
Tennessee knocked Shawaryn out of the game and cut the lead to one with a four-run fifth, capped by a Vincent Jackson two-run double off senior Robert Galligan.
Maryland upped its lead to three in the sixth. Costes opened the inning with a single, but was cut down on a fielder's choice that saw Papio reach. After Biondic singled, Bechtold hit a single to right center that brought home Papio. Morris then legged out an infield hit that plated Biondic.
Junior Tayler Stiles tossed three and two thirds innings of two-run relief to eventually earn the win. He took the Terps to two outs in the ninth before Ryan Selmer nabbed his third save of the season, ringing up Nick Senzel with the tying run on third.
Maryland's offense stayed hot and has now racked up double digit hits in three consecutive games. Smith stretched his hitting streak to six games while Nickens and Dunn have both reached base in eight straight games to begin the season.
The three hits and four RBIs were the most Bechtold has had in a single game in his career. Biondic has three consecutive multi-hit games.
Maryland returns to the diamond tomorrow at noon against Southeastern Louisiana. Action can be heard live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
– Terps –
