COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Alex Erro's 11th inning solo home run proved to be the difference as the Maryland baseball team fell, 6-5, to Northwestern at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (33-17, 15-9 Big Ten) built a 5-2 lead after five innings, but the Wildcats pushed the game into extra innings. Sophomores Marty Costes and AJ Lee led the squad with two hit games.
A pair of RBI singles in the top half of the fifth gave Northwestern the lead before Maryland came back with a big inning. Junior Justin Morris reached on a walk before ending up on third on an error by the shortstop that also allowed Zach Jancarski reach second on Jancarski's groundball. Senior Brandon Gum then singled to the shortstop to bring home Morris.
Costes followed with a single of his own to plate Jancarski before Gum scored on a Will Watson sac fly. Lee finished up the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to score Nick Dunn, who had singled to reach in the inning.
Northwestern responded with two runs in the top half of the sixth before tying the game in the eighth. Maryland put the winning run on second in the 10th, but Kevin Smith and Madison Nickens could not bring the run home. Erro's solo shot off Andrew Miller in the 11th gave the Wildcats the win.
Maryland honored seven seniors in pregame festivities on Senior Day at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. Nickens, Gum, Patrick Hisle, Jared Price, Mike Rescigno, Tayler Stiles and Nick Cieri all played their final games in College Park.
The Terrapins return to action Thursday at High Point. Action is scheduled for 6 p.m. and fans can listen to the game live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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