Feb. 19, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland baseball team opens its season this weekend in the IMIChotels.com INN-vitational in Conway, S.C., the fifth straight season in which the Terrapins have made an early-season trip to the palmetto state.
The Terps open at 4 p.m. Friday against the host Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the two teams will meet again at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Terps finish the trip with an 11 a.m. game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
The Chanticleers, who won 50 games last year and hosted the Myrtle Beach Regional in the NCAA Tournament, are a unanimous choice to win the Big South this season. Coastal Carolina is led by Big South Preseason Player of the Year David Sappelt and Preseason Pitcher of the Year Bobby Gagg.
Maryland will face Gagg in the season-opener Friday. The Terps will counter with George Washington-transfer Scott Swinson (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial). Montgomery College-transfer Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) will take the mound Saturday.
Sunday's meeting with Pitt will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1950. The starting nod is expected to go to either senior Kevin Biringer (Albuquerque, N.M./Bradley University) or sophomore Ian Schwalenberg (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown).
The Terps return all but one starting position player, including sophomore outfielder AJ Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook), a Wallace Award Preseason Watch List member.
All three games will be broadcast online at wmucsports.com. Fans can watch Friday's game against Coastal Carolina line on the Internet at bigsouthsports.com. The cost is $4.95.
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