COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland baseball team scored five runs in the third and held on late in an 8-6 victory over Rutgers at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (24-27, 9-11 Big Ten) jumped out to a 7-1 lead and cruised before Rutgers scored five runs over last four frames to tighten up the game. Junior right-hander John Murphy entered in jam in the ninth and induced a fly out to end the game.
After Jawuan Harris homered in the top of the second to make it 1-0, Maryland scored seven straight runs. The first came in the bottom half of the second when Will Watson scored on a Taylor Wright bunt single.
As in Saturday's game, the Terps broke the game open in the third. Junior AJ Lee led off the inning with a walk before junior Marty Costes singled following a Nick Dunn strikeout. After Kevin Biondic lined out, Maryland did all of its damage with two down. Watson singled up the middle to score Lee and nab his 10th RBI of the series. After senior Zach Jancarski walked, senior Justin Morris ripped a triple in the gap in right center to clear the bases.
Morris came in to score on a Wright single through the right side and Maryland took a 6-1 lead to the fourth. In that frame, the Terps added another run on a Jancarski RBI single that plated Costes.
Maryland starter RHP Mark DiLuia tossed six innings, striking out four while allowing two earned runs. Rutgers clawed to within 7-4 after the top half of the eighth, but Dunn gave the Terps an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a double off the wall in right that scored Justin Vought.
Rutgers battled back in the ninth, scoring two runs in the ninth. Maryland senior righty Ryan Hill looked to have gotten the final out on a strikeout, but the ball bounced away from Vought behind the plate and Chris Folinusz reached on the play. The Scarlet Knights scored on a throwing error from Vought on that play before scoring again on a Harris RBI single.
Murphy entered with two on and promptly plunked Carmen Sclafani, loading the bases. The junior won an eight-pitch battle with Milo Freeman to end the game and earn his fourth save.
Prior to the game, Maryland honored eight seniors; Zach Jancarski, Kevin Biondic, Taylor Bloom, Justin Morris, Will Watson, Ryan Hill, Alec Tuohy and bullpen catcher Max Godwin.
Maryland returns to action Thursday night against Indiana. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Bloomington and fans can watch the action live on the Big Ten Network.
