Maryland baseball: Terps takes game three 7 - 3 to sweep Bryant

Today's finale of the three game series pitted sophomore Jared Price vs. Bryant's senior right hander Vaughn Hayward. In Price's last start, his first ever, the strike zone proved elusive. Lasting only into the second inning he took the loss in an 8 - 5 game against Florida.

This time it was their pitcher with control issues

It was important that Price get off to a good start and that's what he did. In the first inning he gave up only an infield single and struck out one. In the bottom half of the inning White struck out. Lowe walked and then Wade ripped a single to right field, with Lowe motoring to third. Martir hit a grounder to third and beat out the double play. Lowe scored and the Terps led 1 - 0. The red hot Papio hit a liner to left field that Matt Albanese misplayed, and Martir got to third. This was important, as on the next pitch as Schmit squared to bunt Hayward threw a wild pitch, and Martir scored. Schmit grounded out and Maryland led after one inning 2 - 0.

Just like in his last game Price was staked to a nice early lead. But this time Price prevailed, giving up just a bloop single in the next inning and recording his second strike out. His fastball topped off at 91 - 92 mph. In the Terps' half Cieri led off with his third double of the year. Rescigno walked and Amaro laid down a bunt that Hayward misplayed. White came up with the bases loaded and no outs. On a 3 - 2 count White was nipped by a pitch and Cieri scored. Lowe walked and it was 4 - 0 Maryland, sending Hayward to the showers. Michael Marshall came on for Bryant, making his first career appearance. Wade lined out to center but Amaro was able to tag up and score. However the Terps couldn't manage another run that inning. After two innings the Terps had three hits but five runs on the board.

Bryant finally scores

Cellucci led off with a double down the left field line. Scott bunted Cellucci over to third, who then scored on a single by Mountford.  It was Bryant's first run in the series after Maryland pitchers had held them scoreless for 20 innings. Zarozny hit a shot that Papio was able to run down and Anderson struck out to end the inning. Maryland went down in order in the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth Dan St. George hit a chopper to third that Rescigno grabbed but his throw sailed over Wade's head. Cellucci bunted St. George to third, and a grounder by Mountford pushed St. George across with an unearned run. Jack Patterson came in to pitch for Bryant, relieving Marshall, who had retired all eight Maryland batters he faced. Lowe walked for the third straight time today. Wade then sacrificed Lowe to second. But Lowe was stranded there as Martir lined out and Papio struck out.

The sixth inning started with Zarozny singling and going to second as Anderson grounded out to first.  Mullin also grounded out and Zarozny went to third. Rinn walked on four pitches; it was Price's first walk allowed. Albanese came to the plate as the tying run but Price struck him out, ending the threat. That was Price's last inning: six innings, five hits, one earned run, just one walk, and five strike outs. Meanwhile Maryland went down quietly in their half of the sixth.

Bryant rallies to tighten things up but Maryland answers

Bobby Ruse was on the mound for the Terps to start the seventh. Cuas came in at third for Rescigno. Ruse retired the first two hitter but then trouble began. McCarthy poked a single to right. Fabio, in his first collegiate at-bat, doubled in McCarthy. Zarozny was plunked and there were runners on first and second. Senior lefty Ben Brewster came on to pitch. Inexplicably Bryant tried a double steal and Zarozny was tagged out on a very close call.

Maryland had gone hitless through four straight innings. They would not get a hit in the seventh, yet managed to stretch their lead. Amaro walked and White bunted him to second. Amaro promptly stole third. Lowe walked for the fourth time. With Wade batting there was a wild pitch; Amaro scored and Lowe went to second. Wade walked, then Martir was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Papio blasted one to the center field warning track that scored Lowe and let Wade tag to third. Schmit struck out but the Terps now led 7 - 3.

Brewster cruised through the eight with two strike outs. His fastball touched 94 mph. Alex Robinson pitched the ninth and closed the door on the Bulldogs. Price got the win to move to 1 - 1 on the season. Although Bryant outhit the Terps 7 to 3, Bryant pitchers issued seven walks and hit two batters. Meanwhile the quartet of Maryland pitchers combined for 10 strike outs and only one walk.