Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland baseball won its fourth game in a row as it used strong pitching and timely hitting in a 3-2 win over Delaware at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
Maryland (10-3) gave up just two runs between pitchers
Ryan Van Buren and
Omar Melendez. Van Buren pitched five innings, allowing just one run and five hits as he struck out four batters. Melendez pitched the final four innings and recorded his second save of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out two batters.
The Terps hitting was bolstered by Delaware native Kevin Keister. He went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Jacob Orr finished with two hits and was granted the other RBI. Chris Hacopian scored two runs, walked twice and added a double.
Eddie Hacopian also notched his 100th career hit in the contest.
Delaware's (6-5) Andrew Amato and Chris Ludman each hit solo home runs.
Swope's Take
"He's been a team guy first and I think the reason he's unflappable in that type of position is because he has pitched a lot, head coach Matt Swope said of Melendez. Even though it was a close game and even after the solo home run, he just comes back out and attacks."
Kevin Keister On His performance
"I saw the ball well today and it just happened to fall for me a couple of times. ... Chris [Hacopian] was on for me a couple of times and I just tried to do my job and get him in."
Breaking Down The Action
- Ran Van Buren pitched a one-two-three inning while striking out two batters looking in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Sam Hojnar doubled down the right line and Chris Hacopian walked before each baserunner advanced on a throwback to second base. Kevin Keister drove home Hojnar on a fielder's choice to take a 1-0 lead.
- Devin Russell flew out to right field and allowed Hacopian to tag up to third base. Jacob Orr drove him home with a single to center field to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
- Andrew Amato launched a solo homer to right field, to put Delaware on the board trailing 2-1.
- Van Buren pitched his way out of a jam with two runners on in the top of the fifth inning. He struck out two batters in the process without allowing a run in the one-score game.
- Keister drove in a run with an RBI single up the middle to increase the Terps' lead to 3-1. Orr nearly homered but he instead flew out to deep center field to end the inning.
- Chris Ludman hit a solo home run in the eighth to cut the lead to 3-2.
- Terps were able to get runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth inning but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
- Melendez pitched the final four innings and recorded his second save of the season. The Terps turned a double play to secure the win.
Numbers To Know
- 2: Omar Melendez recorded his second save of the season.
- 4: Maryland is on a four-game win streak. n
- 4: Chris Hacopian scored two or more runs for the fourth time this season.
- 6: Jacob Orr has RBIs in six of 10 games this season.
- 9: Orr has hits in nine out of 10 starts this season.
- 9: Kevin Keister notched three hits for the ninth time in his career.
- 17: Orr has 17 multi-hit games in his career.
- 28: Keister recorded his 28th game with multiple RBIs.
- 42: Keister has 42 games with multiple hits in his career.
- 100: Eddie Hacopian recorded his 100th hit in the contest.
