March 3, 2007

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Freshman A.J. Casario finished the day 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs as the Maryland baseball team defeated Lafayette College Saturday, 7-4, at Shipley Field. The win improved Maryland's record to 9-2, while the Leopards fell to 2-2.

On the mound, reliever Brett Tidball (1-0) notched his first victory of the season, while Leopards starter Matt Kamine (1-1) took the loss. Tidball entered in the fifth inning for starter Ryan Moorer and allowed just three hits in four innings of work. Junior Brett Cecil pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out the side for his third save of the season and second in as many days.

Maryland battled back from a quick deficit, as the Leopards put two runs on the board in the first inning. After a rough start, Moorer settled in for three more innings of work, allowing two runs and four more hits to earn the no-decision.

The Terrapin bats came alive in the third inning, giving Maryland a 3-2 advantage. Casario led off with the first of his three singles on the day and stole second base. Two batters later, he scored on an RBI single by Steve Braun. After a fielding error by Kamine allowed Mike Murphy to reach base, junior Joe Palumbo continued his torrid offensive production of late as he doubled to left field to score Braun. Senior Dan Melvin then hit a single through the left side of the infield to score Murphy.

Lafayette responded one inning later, scoring two runs in the fourth to grab a 4-3 lead. In the bottom half, Maryland capitalized on a fielding error by shortstop Daniel Bierce as Braun drove in the tying run, scoring Casario.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Maryland added two more runs in the bottom half of the frame as Casario drove in two with his single down the right-field line, as Terps opened up a 6-4 lead.

Two innings later, sophomore Gerry Spessard blasted his second home run of the year to right-center field to increase Maryland's lead.

Cecil was called from the bullpen for the second day in a row and answered with a perfect ninth inning, striking out all three batters to mark his third save of the season.

Maryland's win improved its non-conference home winning streak to 18 games, and marked the Terrapins' longest overall winning streak since the 2004 season with its fifth in a row.

The Terrapins will try for their second straight series sweep when they play host to Lafayette Sunday afternoon. Kevin Biringer will have the first pitch for Maryland at 1:00 p.m. from Shipley Field.