COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Two five-run innings propelled the Maryland baseball team past Purdue, 11-3, at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (21-18, 7-5 Big Ten) received an excellent start from freshman RHP Hunter Parsons who struck out a career high five batters over six innings of two-run ball. Fellow freshman Nick Dunn led the offense with a pair of hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Purdue jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second before Maryland put up five runs in the bottom of the third. Senior Anthony Papio led off the inning with a single before consecutive walks issued to redshirt freshman Andrew Bechtold and sophomore Zach Jancarski loaded the bases.
Junior Madison Nickens capitalized, lining a single through the left side to bring home Papio. After Kevin Smith struck out, Dunn doubled down the right field line to plate two more runs. Junior Nick Cieri then reached on an error that scored Nickens before sophomore Kevin Biondic laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to drive home Dunn and give the Terps a 5-1 lead.
Papio extended the lead in the fourth with a towering solo home run to right field for his second home run in as many games.
Parsons was solid through his start scattering seven hits and walking none. Purdue added a run in the sixth off Parsons, but the freshman earned his second career win.
After the Boilermakers cut the Terp lead to three with a run in the seventh, Maryland blew the game open with a five-run seventh. Jancarski reached on an error to open the inning followed by a Nickens bunt single. Smith then slapped a single to left field to bring home Jancarski. Dunn made it back-to-back singles with one also to left that scored Nickens.
The inning continued when Biondic singled to the shortstop. The ball was booted into the outfield on the play, allowing Smith to score and Dunn to head to third. Freshman Marty Costes made the most of his opportunity with a single up the middle that brought home Dunn and Biondic.
Senior Rob Galligan, sophomore Ryan Selmer and freshman John Murphy finished the game in relief.
Papio upped his team-best hitting streak to six games, while Dunn notched his team leading 11th multi-hit game. Costes now has a team-high seven multi-RBI games and has reached base in seven straight.
Maryland returns to action Tuesday at James Madison. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
– Terps –
