Maryland baseball: Terps defeat Delaware 5 - 2

Maryland (11 - 6) took on the Delaware Blue Hens (9 - 8) for the second time this season. A week ago the Terps easily dispatched the Blue Hens 10 - 1. In that game four Terps relievers pitched a total of five scoreless frames, allowing only two base runners. The Blue Hens committed five errors and Maryland took advantage of those mishaps.

Tonight's game was played at Harford Community College as Delaware's home field is not quite in good enough condition. The Terps sent out junior right hander Bobby Ruse (0 - 0, 5.00 era) vs. freshman left hander Kevin Milley (0 - 0, 2.25 era). It was the first collegiate start for both pitchers. The 5'10" 170 lb. Milley had previously appeared in three relief outings, going four innings and allowing only a single run.

Terps jump out to an early lead

The Terps took an early lead in the top of the second. Michael Montville was HBP. Jose Cuas and Krysthian Leal singled, loading the bases. Charlie White continued his hot hitting by knocking in two runs with a sharp single to center. White has now hit in five straight games.

Delaware made some noise in their half of the second inning after there were two outs. Doug Trimble doubled and went to third on an infield hit by Tyler Powell. But Brian Mayer grounded out to Blake Schmit to end the threat.

In their half of the third inning the Terps scratched out another run. Schmit and Anthony Papio started things off with consecutive singles. With Kevin Martir up Milley picked off Papio, but on the subsequent rundown Schmit raced home from third. The Terps now led 3 - 0. The Blue Hens went down in order in the bottom of the third and Ruse was cruising along.

The Blue Hens did score in the fourth. Norm Donkin led off with an infield single, and then stole second. Zach Lopes hit a grounder that Wade had no play on but to get the out at first: Donkin advanced to third. Alex Mottle hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought Donkin home. Doug Trimble lined out to Montville to end the fourth.

Martir breaks open a tight game with a two-out double

There was no scoring by either side in the fifth and sixth innings. At this point Ruse had retired nine straight Blue Hens.

Lefty Eric Sawyer came on to pitch the top of the seventh. Wade drew a walk. After Convissar grounded out Schmit hit a shot off the wall for his team-leading seventh double of the season. Papio struck out. Right hander John Geffre (he took the loss against the Terps last week) came on to face Martir. That was a mistake. Martir ripped a double down the left field line and the Terps were up 5 - 1.

Brandon Casas came in for Ruse to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Ruse's line: six solid innings, four hits, one run, no walks, and three strike outs. Casas set down the Blue Hens 1 - 2 -3.

In Delaware’s eight there was trouble. With one out Mayer and Brock Niggebrugge hit back-to-back singles. A long fly to right allowed Mayer to tag up. Tayler Stiles came in to pitch for the Terps. Ex-Terp Greg Olenski singled and Mayer scored. But Stiles got Donkin to fly out to White for the last out.

In Delaware's last chance Stiles made quick order of the Blue Hens. He struck out Lopes and pinch hitter Jake Clark, then got Trimble to fly out.

Ruse went to 1 - 0 in his career-long outing. Stiles got his first collegiate save.