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It was all red today, as the Terps donned their red tops in the series finale against UMass. That ended up being somewhat symbolic as the Terps remained red hot. In the previous two games the Terps had held Minutemen batters to one run on five hits. It was up to Jared Price to continue baffling the UMass hitters. He was facing freshman right hander Mike Geannelis, who was making his first career start. Geannelis hit as the DH in yesterday's double header. He pitched last weekend against Army, going 2/3 of an inning without giving up a hit.
The Terps own the first inning this season
In the top of the first Price got two quick outs. Then Adam Picard singled up the middle and Nik Campero hit a smash to third that Rescigno knocked down, but his throw was a tad late. Kellen Pagel was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases. But Brandon Walsh went fishing against a 0 -2 off-speed pitch from Price and no harm was done.
The Terps drew first blood once again. LaMont Wade sent a shot through the middle that almost took off Geannelis's leg. Papio stroked a single to center. Geannelis tried to pick Wade off second but the throw sailed into center field and Wade took third. Papio took second a pitch in the dirt from Geannelis. Rescigno showed great patience and was able to get a free pass, loading the bases. Cieri hit a fly to shallow right field and Wade just beat the throw home. Schmit followed with a single to left and the Terps led after one inning 2 - 0.
Minutemen tie it up on small ball
Price looked sharp in the second, registering his third and fourth strike outs. In the third inning Price had control problems, particularly throwing high. The first two hitters reached base via walks. Picard tried to bunt the runners over. Price made an alert play to throw out the runner at third. But this was to no avail as Price threw a wild pitch and the runners advanced. Campero hit a grounder in the hole that Schmit wisely chose to get the out at first, even though the Minutemen scored. Price then issued his third walk of the inning and Maryland's bullpen got active. But Price got Walsh looking for the second time today.
In the UMass fourth Jennings led off with a single. Sanford bunted and no one picked up the ball. Vinny Scifo, the nine-hole hitter was HBP and the bases were loaded with no outs. Adie chopped one and Price had no play but to first. The score was now tied. Price struck out the next two hitters to escape with no further damage. In the fifth Price's control returned as he retired the side in order with two more Ks.
Lefty Aaron Plunkett came in to pitch for UMass in the bottom of the fifth. With one out Papio was HBP and stole second. Rescigno flied to right and Cieri grounded out; the Terps hadn't scored since the first.
The Minutemen went down 1-2-3 in the sixth: Price had retired eight straight hitters. But Plunkett's change-up had the Terps batters off-balance and the score remained tied.
In the seventh Ben Brewster came in to pitch for Maryland. Price had gone six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, three walks, two HBP, and 10 Ks. Brewster set down the side on two strike outs and a foul out. Meanwhile Plunkett continued to stymie the Terps. Bobby Ruse pitched the eighth for Maryland. He was as good as Brewster, retiring threw straight batters, two on strike outs. Maryland pitching had gotten 14 UMass batters in a row.
We go to extra innings
With one out in the top of the ninth Sanford hit a Baltimore chop and got on first. Meanwhile it started to rain. Sciifo struck out swinging. Alex Robinson came in and picked the runner off first. In the bottom of the ninth Schmit grounded back to the pitcher. Convissar was hit by a pitch that the UMass manager claimed was a strike. Leal flew out. Tim Lewis pinch ran for Convissar and was thrown out trying to steal second.
Robinson set down UMass in the tenth, blowing pitches past the Minutemen batters. With one out in the Terps' 10th White lined a single to center. Wade followed with a hit, putting the winning run in scoring position. Papio was hit, loading the bases with one out. Right hander D. J. Jauss came in to face Rescigno. On a 2 - 0 count Rescigno hit a bouncer that the second basemen fielded. Instead of trying for the double play he threw home. But the throw wasn't sharp and White slid home with the wining run. Alex Robinson was the winner and Aaron Plunkett took the loss.