Maryland Scores Two in the Ninth to Defeat #17 Clemson 8-6 in Second Game of Doubleheader Sunday

May 3, 2009

Clemson, SC –

Tyler Bennett’s two-run single in the ninth inning broke a 6-6 tie and lifted Maryland to an 8-6 win over #17 Clemson in the second game of a doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Sunday. The Terrapins improved to 23-26 overall and 7-20 in the ACC. The Tigers, who won the series 2-1, fell to 32-16 overall and 16-11 in ACC play.

The Tigers owned a 6-4 lead before two costly errors and Matthew Murakami’s two-out, two-run triple tied the score in the sixth inning. The Tigers then left the bases loaded without scoring a run in both the sixth and seventh innings prior to Bennett’s two-run single in the ninth inning. The Tigers put 23 batters on base but only managed six runs and stranded 13 runners on base in the game.

Maryland reliever Kyle Blackwell (2-0) earned the win, as he pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Dan Gentzler pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his sixth save of the season. Tiger reliever Tomas Cruz (2-2) suffered the loss, as he allowed two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings pitched.

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning behind four hits. Mike Freeman hit a one-out infield single and went to third on Jeff Schaus’ flyball that fell in shallow center for a single. Ben Paulsen followed with a single through the right side to score Freeman. Kyle Parker then hit another single through the right side, but Schaus was thrown out at home by rightfielder A.J. Casario.

The Terrapins took the lead in the top of the second inning. Will Greenberg led off with a double that went bounced off Freeman at second. Three batters later, Casario grounded a two-out single up the middle to score Greenberg. Pinch-hitter Mike Rozak then blooped a single to shallow right-center, as Casario scored all the way from first base. A walk and Tiger error loaded the bases, but Chris Dwyer struck out Murakami to keep the Tigers down by one run.

In the bottom of the second inning, Chris Epps reached on a fielder’s choice as Pohl scored. Schaus then lined a two-out single to left-center to score Epps, giving Clemson a 3-2 lead.

Clemson extended its lead in the fourth inning thanks to two two-out hits. Stolz hit a one-out single through the left side and stole second. Freeman then hit a two-out double to left field to score Stolz. Schaus followed with a single through the right side to plate Freeman.

The Terrapins narrowed Clemson’s lead to a run in the top of the fifth inning. Murakami reached on a fielding error by Stolz at third and Mike Murphy followed with a two-run homer to left, his 12th long ball of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Parker led off by reaching on a fielding error by Murphy at third and went to second on the play. After Wilson Boyd walked and the next two Tigers were retired, Stolz singled to right to score Parker, giving Clemson a 6-4 lead.

Two key errors and a two-out hit enabled the Terrapins to tie the score in the sixth inning. After the first two batters were retired, Rodriguez and Jensen Pupa both reached on errors. Murakami then laced a triple to right-center to score Rodriguez and Pupa.

After the Tigers left the bases loaded without scoring in both the sixth and seventh innings, Maryland took the lead in the top of the ninth inning. Murphy led off with a single through the left side but was erased on Greenberg’s fielder’s choice. David Poutier followed with a double to right-center to move Greenberg to third. Bennett then ripped a single to left-center to score Greenberg and Poutier.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, John Nester led off with a single to right-center. But Stolz grounded into a 1-6-3 double play and Epps lined out to short to end the game.

Clemson, who outhit the Terrapins 15-11, was led at the plate by Freeman and Schaus, who had three hits apiece. Murphy and Bennett had two hits and two RBIs apiece to lead Maryland.

Maryland’s win was its first at Doug Kingsmore Stadium since 1992. It snapped Clemson’s 23-game home winning streak over the Terrapins. It was also just Maryland’s second all-time win in 55 games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

Clemson will travel to Greenville, SC to take on Furman at Fluor Field on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.