ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Maryland outlasted #24 Michigan, 11-8, in 11 innings, scoring three runs in the top of the 11th after seeing an 8-0 lead disappear. The win moves the Terps to 25-14 overall while Michigan falls to 25-14. The Terps have won six games in a row, and 15 of their last 17, making a late-season push up the Big Ten standings. Maryland and Michigan are now tied for second place in the conference standings, behind first-place Nebraska.
What You Should Know
- The series opener in Ann Arbor turned out to be Maryland's wildest win of the season, as the Terps scored eight unanswered to start the game - gave up eight unanswered from the seventh to the ninth - and rallied back with a three-run 11th inning to which the Wolverines couldn't respond.
- Nick Dean was sensational on the mound, tossing six and a third innings of three run ball. Dean's outing was his sixth-consecutive quality start.
- Maryland's offensive approach was relentless against Michigan starter Steven Hajjar, one of the best pitchers in the league.
- The Terps struck first and put two the board in the third, as Chris Alleyne scored on a Benjamin Cowles safety squeeze and Matt Shaw came home on a Randy Bednar RBI single.
- Maryland extended its lead to four in the fifth, as Justin Vought hit a leadoff homer, Bednar hit a deep run-scoring double off the wall in left field, and Matt Orlando drove a ball beyond the reach of the Michigan third baseman that allowed a pair of runs to come home.
- Vought's second homer of the day - and his second multi-homer game of the year - put the Terps up eight runs in the sixth.
- Michigan began to chip away in the seventh, getting Dean out of the game, and plating three runs on a RBI single, bases-loaded walk, and sacrifice fly.
- The Wolverines made a thunderous comeback in the bottom of the ninth, scoring five unearned runs to tie the game and force extras. Closer Sam Bello retired a pair of Wolverines after a leadoff double and ensuing fielding error, but the two-out rally began with a run-scoring wild pitch and three straight base hits to chase the closer from the game.
- Maryland skipper Rob Vaughn turned to David Falco, who allowed a pair of inherited runs to score, including the game tying eighth run. Falco limited the damage however and got the Terps out of the inning with a strikeout.
- Despite loading the bases with just one out in the tenth, Maryland wasn't able to cash in, and went to sophomore Ryan Ramsey for the bottom half of the inning. Ramsey struck out the side and continued to dominate in relief, building off his three-inning scoreless performance against Purdue last weekend.
- The Maryland offense was relentless again in the 11th, as Bednar drew a leadoff HBP, walked, stole third, and scored on an Orlando RBI double. Tommy Gardiner laid down a perfect safety squeeze to bring home Maryland's second run of the inning, and Orlando later scored on a passed ball.
- Ramsey took the mound again for the bottom half of the frame, and struck out the side, facing just one batter over the minimum as a defensive misplay allowed a bloop double to fall in left field. Ramsey earned the win out of the bullpen, his fourth of the season, and lowered his season ERA to a meager 1.95.
Up Next
- Maryland faces off against Michigan again tomorrow in the second game of the three-game set. First pitch is slated for 5:00 and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Scott Pose on the call.
-Terps-
