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The Terps got off to a strong start in Sunday's rubber match against Florida, but were unable to hold on against the Gators, losing the game 8-5 and the series 2-1.
Starting pitcher Jared Price struggled for Maryland, allowing five runs on five walks and one hit in one and two-thirds innings.
The Terps took an early lead in the first off Florida pitcher Karsten Whitson, who walked Charlie White to open up the game. After Brandon Lowe bunted White to second and Lamonte Wade popped up to third, Kevin Martir singled White home to make it 1-0 Terps. Shortstop Blake Schmitt followed that up with an RBI double to left center field, scoring Martir and making the lead 2-0. After Anthony Papio walked, Mike Rescigno (the third different starting DH for Maryland in the series) hit a ground-rule double, scoring Schmitt to make it 3-0.
Florida got one back in the bottom of the first, after Jared Price walked the first two batters to start the inning. He was able to force three consecutive outs after that, but leadoff hitter Richie Martin scored on a sac fly, cutting the Maryland lead to 3-1.
Price ran into control issues in the second inning as well, walking Zack Powers and Buddy Reed, with a single by Braden Mattson in between. With the bases loaded and one out, Martin flew out to center, scoring Powers and bringing the Gators within one run. Ryan Larson walked on four pitches (his second walk of the game), and Maryland pulled Price in favor of Jake Drossner. On a 2-0 count, Drossner hit Casey Turgeon with the pitch, tying the game at 3-3, and Taylor Gushue followed up with a two-run single to give Florida the 5-3 lead.
Florida scored three more runs in the fifth, and the Terps brought one back in the sixth on a groundout by Lowe.
In the top of the eighth, Maryland came back within striking distance. After Anthony Amaro and White struck out to lead off the inning, Lowe doubled and Wade singled, advancing the runner to third. The two-out rally continued on Martir's infield single off the pitcher (literally), scoring Lowe and cutting the Florida lead to 8-5.
It wasn't enough, however, as Florida was able to get out of the jam and win the game, which ended early due to a travel curfew.
