April 2, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland (13-17, 6-9 ACC) scored six runs in the first inning to cruise to an 8-5 win over third-ranked Georgia Tech (22-6, 6-6) on Sunday afternoon at Shipley Field.
Georgia Tech won the first game of the series on Friday, 15-4, but was outscored 14-8 over the final two games.
The Yellow Jackets dropped a series to the Terrapins for the first time since the Atlantic Coast Conference adopted the current three-game series format in 1990. Georgia Tech had won 13 straight series that went three games.
Maryland starter Casey Baron (1-2) worked five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits to earn the win. He issued one walk and struck out two batters. Seth Overby pitched three innings and allowed one runs on two hits, and Brett Cecil worked a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save of the year.
Maryland’s first seven hitters of the game all singled as the Terrapins jumped out to a 6-0 lead. Three singles from Matt Maropis, Steve Braun and Gerry Spessard loaded the bases, while Dan Melvin, Mike Murphy, Chad Durakis and Jordan Wilson all followed with RBI singles to chase Tech starter Ryan Turner (2-1) from the game. After Wink Nolan grounded into a double play, Nick Jowers added a two-out, two-run single to drive in the final two runs of the inning.
The Terrapins extended the lead to 7-0 with an unearned run in the second inning.
Tech made the score 7-1 in the top of the third inning when Mike Trapani singled, took third base on a throwing error by Melvin at second base and scored on a RBI groundout from Danny Payne. Maryland answered in the bottom of the inning when Nolan walked, took third on a double from Jowers and scored on a sacrifice fly from Maropis to make the score 8-1.
Tech’s Whit Robbins doubled and scored in the fourth inning to make the score 8-2.
Wes Hodges hit a two-run homer, his sixth of the season and second in as many games, to pull the Yellow Jackets to within 8-4 in the fifth inning. In the eighth inning, Payne doubled and scored on a two-out RBI single from Matt Wieters to make the score 8-5.
Tech’s bullpen of Lee Hyde and Brad Rulon combined to work eight innings and allowed just one earned run.
Georgia Tech hosts Georgia Southern for a two-game series this week at Russ Chandler Stadium. Game times are 7 p.m. on Tuesday and 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
