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On a chilly day the Terps took on the Wolfpack in the final game of the series. The Terps took the first two games and were looking for the series sweep.
Some new faces for the Terps
Getting his first collegiate start was freshman Tayler Stiles. The southpaw had an impressive 1.50 ERA in seven relief appearances. Also making his first start for the Terrapins was outfielder Tim Lewis, a transfer from Allen County Community College. Lewis has been used primarily as a pinch runner. He was playing in place of the injured Charlie White. (White is day-to-day and was hurt on a slide into second base in yesterday's game.) NC State sent sophomore LHP Brad Stone (3.09, 3 - 0), who was the Sunday starter last year and has held the same spot this year.
Terps once again makes noise in the first inning, lead 2 - 0
Stiles had a great start, retiring the first three batters, including a called third strike on All-American Trea Turner. In the Maryland half of the inning Blake Schmit led off with a walk. After LaMonte Wade sacrificed Schmit to second, Kyle Convissar was HBP. The Terps then executed a double steal. Kevin Martir hit a fly to left that scored Schmit. Anthony Papio drew a walk. Mike Rescigno drilled a single to right center that scored Martir; Papio went to third base. That was it for Stone. RHP Andrew Woeck came in on relief and struck out Jose Cuas.
The Wolfpack claw back
The Wolfpack got on the board in the second on a home run down the left field line by Logan Ratledge. With two outs Jake Armstrong was HBP. Kyle Cavanaugh drilled a pitch to right field for a single; Armstrong was able to make it to third. However Garret Suggs hit a tapper back to Stiles for the final out keeping the Terps on top. In the Wolfpack third Brett Austin was walked on four pitches. Turner hit a ground ball through the left side for a hit. Jake Fincher bunted that Rescigno picked up and rifled to third for the out. Knizner popped out to Cuas. Ratledge, who had homered earier, hit a shot that Lewis caught with his back against the center field wall.
In the fourth inning Matt Vernon blasted one of the top of the center field wall for a double. That was it for Stiles as Bobby Ruse came in to pitch. Ruse struck out two batters, then got the Suggs to hit a grounder up the middle that Schmitt made a beautiful play on.
Meanwhile Woeck was throwing smoke. In 3 1/3 innings he struck out seven Terrapins. So after four innings the Terps led 2 - 1.
Austin led off the fifth with a double. Turner sent a bullet that Rescigno picked for the out. Fincher grounded to first. Knizner grounded out to Schmit: in three straight innings the Wolfpack had a runner on second with no outs and failed to score.
Terps grab another run, then the weirdness begins
Papio began the Terps' sixth with a double in the right center field gap. Rescigno was HBP. Papio went to third on a failed pick-off attempt. Cuas hit a bloop fly that Ratledge leapt for and just couldn't complete the catch. Papio scored and the Terps led 3 - 1. That was it for Woeck. D J Thomas came in to pitch for the Wolfpack. Leal tried to sacrifice but Thomas made the play and got Rescigno at third. Lewis hit a hard grounder that Turner dove for and was able to get the runner at second. Blakr Schmit flew out and the Terps had only pushed across one run.
Ruse was cruising along until two outs in the seventh. Austin hit a shot off the right field wall for a double. Ben Brewster came in and walked Turner. Fincher hit a grounder that popped off Rescigno's glove. NC State's first base coach thought the ball was foul and picked up the ball: since it was a live ball that was an automatic out. The Wolfpack again could not cash in.
Alex Robinson came in to pitch the eighth. With one out Ratledge singled. After a ground out, Armstrong and Kavanuagh both walked, loading the bases.Kevin Mooney relieved Robinson. Mooney was to face none other than pinch hitter Carlos Rodon. The Terps’ closer struck out Rodon looking on a nasty breaking pitch.
Cuas' home run gives Terps breathing room
Rescigno walked to star the bottom of the eighth. Then Cuas ht a home run to left and the Terps led 5 - 1.
In the ninth inning Austin struck out. But Turner hit a home run, then Fincher followed with a single. Knizner hit a grounder back to Mooney. Ratledge struck out to end the game.
Bobby Ruse gets the win to go 2 – 0 on the year. It was his second win in five days. Kevin Mooney earned his fourth save. The Terps are now 16 – 6 overall and 5 – 4 in the ACC.