CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Maryland baseball team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Illinois, 4-2, at Illinois Field Friday night.

The Terrapins (14-14, 2-2 Big Ten) were unable to get anything going offensively before turning it on in the ninth inning. The Terps plated its runs on two squeeze bunts and a wild pitch. Maryland starter RHP Hunter Parsons took the win in an eight inning complete game, giving up two runs and striking out two.

Parsons was the story for the Terps throughout the majority of the contest as he kept Maryland in the game. Illinois was able to notch a pair of runs on sac flies in the second, but that was it for the Illini as Parsons retired 10 straight batters to end his outing.

Senior AJ Lee led off the top of the ninth with a single before Randy Bednar doubled to put two in scoring position. Taylor Wright then laid down a squeeze bunt that brought home Lee to make it a one-run game. After Maxwell Costes was hit by a pitch, Caleb Walls reached on his own squeeze bunt that plated Bednar to tie the game.

Sophomore Michael Pineiro entered the game to pinch run for Costes and moved up to third when Justin Vought walked. With Josh Maguire at the plate, Illinois closer Garrett Acton threw a pitch in the dirt that got away from Jeff Korte behind the plate. An attempt to get Pineiro at home failed at the ball was tossed down the third base line and the sophomore scored. Walls then charged home and beat the throw to give the Terps a 4-2 lead.

Senior right-hander John Murphy entered and picked up his sixth save of the season, striking out two in the ninth. Murphy is now tied for sixth in Maryland history with 11 saves.

The Terps return to action tomorrow in a doubleheader against the Illini. Game one will begin at 2 p.m., immediately followed by game two. Both games can be seen on BTN Plus or fans can listen to the action on the Maryland Baseball Network.

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