April 13, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Anthony Buffone’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a six-run eighth and ninth inning rally as Maryland (22-13, 2-9 ACC) claimed a 9-8 comeback win over fourth-ranked Georgia Tech (30-5, 7-3 ACC) on Saturday night at Shipley Field. The Terrapins’ win snapped the Yellow Jackets’ 12-game winning streak.
Trailing 8-7 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Maryland’s Ray Gemmill led off with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt from Kevin McDonald moved pinch-runner Joseph Natale up to second base, Buffone belted a 1-2 pitch over the 380-foot center field wall to give the Terrapins the victory. Buffone went 2-for-4 with two home runs, his third and fourth of the season, and four RBI in the game. Maryland batters hit five home runs in the hitter-friendly confines of Shipley Field, and the Terrapins were aided by eight walks and two hit batters by Georgia Tech pitching.
After the Yellow Jackets took an 8-3 lead through seven and a half innings, Maryland exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning to cut the lead to 8-7. Jason Maxey starting the scoring with a three-run homer, his seventh of the season, before Kyle George singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch
The Terrapins initially jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with solo home runs in each of the first three innings. John McCurdy hit his ACC-leading 16th homer of the season in the first inning, Buffone went deep in the second, and Matt Swope hit his fifth of the year in the third inning.
The Yellow Jackets scored two runs in the sixth to cut the Maryland lead to 3-2. Matt Murton walked and Jason Perry singled to open the inning, and then advanced to second and third bases on Tyler Parker’s flyout. Brandon Boggs drove in the first run with a RBI groundout, while Matthew Boggs delivered a two-out RBI single that plated Perry with the second run in the inning.
Tailing 3-2 after six innings, Georgia Tech’s Jeremy Slayden blasted a two-run homer to left-center field to give the Yellow Jackets a 4-3 lead. Slayden’s home run, his team-leading 11th of the season, was his first opposite field shot of the year. Tech added four more runs in the eighth to push the lead to 8-3. Slayden plated two runs with a bases-loaded single, while Tyler Parker added a RBI double and Matthew Boggs hit a RBI single.
Maryland reliever Brad Lyons (2-2) earned the victory after tossing a scoreless ninth inning. Tech’s Aaron Walker (1-2) took the loss after allowing the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision despite pitching effectively. Maryland’s Jared Stuart allowed two runs on four hits in six innings while Tech’s Kyle Schmidt allowed three runs in 5.2 innings.
Maryland’s win snapped a 12-game losing streak to Georgia Tech dating back to 1998.
Georgia Tech and Maryland will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m. A live radio broadcast can be heard on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live scoring for the game will be available at www.ramblinwreck.com.
