Maryland baseball: Terps edge Tar Heels 3 - 2 on White's RBI single in the ninth

Maryland had their "Pride" uniforms on today. Love them or dislike them? You be the judge. No one can contest that it was a great day for baseball. The students were on spring break but the crowd was respectable; however there were way too many Tar Heel fans.

Terps grab their first runs and first lead of the series

With one out in the first Wood Meyers laced a double into right. After a ground out Skye Bolt was HBP on an 0 - 2 count. Tyler Ramirez walked to load the bases. The first two pitches to Korey Dunbar were balls, bringing pitching Coach Jim Belanger to the mound for a discussion. Dunbar drilled a 3 - 2 pitch that Charlie White was able to run down. But Shawaryn had thrown 27 pitches.

Martir led off the Terps' second with a walk. Cieri hit a nubber that Moss fielded and made a bold move by throwng to second: the throw just beat Martir. Schmit was grazed by a pitch that UNC Coach Mike Fox disputed. Amaro hit a Baltimore chop over Moss' head that the second baseman had no play on. After failing on the safety squeeze twice, Cuas ripped a double off the right field wall and the Terps led 2 - 0. Krysthian Leal walked which loaded the bases once again. But Moss got the speedy Charlie White to hit into an inning-ending double play.Although the Terps were on top a real chance to chase Moss was gone.

Shawaryn put the side down in order in the Tar Heel's half of the third. After some control problems early Shawaryn had settled down. But so did Moss. Coming into the game Moss had walked only five batters. In the first two innings today he walked three and hit one batter.

The Terps lose the ball in the sun as well as their lead

It looked like Shawaryn was going to breeze through the fourth. The first two batters were retired and then Jordan hit a single through the middle. Joe Dudek hit a high fly to right that Convissar lost in the sun, falling in for a run-scoring double. Tom Zengel collected his third extra base hit of the series by smashing a double; the sore was tied. Landon Lassiter hit a sharp grounder that Leal made a great play by stretching out and knocking it down, saving a run. Shawaryn struck out Myers to end the frame. In the bottom of the inning Moss retired all three Terps.

Stiles impressive in relief

With two outs in the top of the fifth Tyler Ramirez hit a double down the right field line. Dunbar was HBP, bringing up Jordan, who had two hits so far today. Jordan hit a hard one that Schmit made a great play on just to knock down. The bases were loaded. With left-hand hitting Dudek due up Shawaryn was pulled for Tayler Stiles. Dudek ran the count full before flying out.

Both side didn't score in the sixth. Russell led off the seventh by lacing a shot to right that Anthony Papio (put in last inning for Amaro; Convissar moved to left field) dove for and just couldn't hang onto: Russell motored into second for a double. However Stiles showed great poise. He got the next batter to pop out. Ramirez drove White back to the warning track, allowing Russell to move to third. But Stiles got Dunbar to pop out to end the threat.

In the Tar Heels' half of the eight Stiles gave up a one out walk and a two out single. Myers sent a long fly that White was able to run down.

Moss was still on the mound for the Tar Heels in the bottom of the eight. With one out Wade walked. Convissar was plunked with a pitch, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Left hander Zach Rice came in for Moss. The freshman southpaw had struck out 10 batters in 4.2 scoreless innings this year. Martir hit one back to Rice who unwisely threw to first base for the out rather than try for the double play. But Rice fanned pinch hitter Mike Rescigno.
With one out In the top of the ninth Skye Bolt chopped a single through the middle. That's all Stiles allowed and we went to the bottom of the ninth tied at two all.

Terps finally get the clutch hit

Rice started the bottom of the ninth by getting Schmit to ground out. Papio was HBP and the winning run was aboard. Cuas struck out. Leal ripped the first pitch just foul down the right field line. Papio stole second . Leal walked. On a 0 -2 pitch White lined a single to right and Papio hustled around to score the winning run.

Chelsea Dagger played loud at Shipley Field.

Tayler Stiles got the win to go to 2 - 0. Zach Rice took the loss for the Tar Heels.