Maryland baseball: Terps stung by a questionable call, lose in extra-innings 13 - 6

Today's game pitted Jake Drossner (4 - 0) vs. RHP Matthew Grimes (4 - 1).

Both teams battle back and forth

The Terps score twice in the first. Brandon Lowe doubled to right and LaMonte Wade walked. With two outs Blake Schmit singled to right, and the right fielder didn't cleanly field it: two runs came across.

But Georgia Tech responded with three runs in the top of the third. Connor Justus singled and Brandon Gold walked. Mott Hyde singled across one run. Drossner got the next two hitters and it looked like he was going to escape with the lead. But Thomas Smith hit a grounder that Wade fielded but had couldn't quite nip the runner. In the confusion an additional run scored.

However Maryland grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the inning. With one out Lowe singled, followed by a single to right by Wade, But Lowe was thrown out trying to leg it out to third; Wade went to second on the throw. Nick Cieri brought Wade home with a single to left field. Schmit walked. Then the red hot Jose Cuas singled in Cieri.

Jackets regain the lead via Terrapin miscues; Terps respond

In the top of the sixth Justus reached on an error by Cuas. Gold then hit a grounder that Schmit misplayed. Arden Pabst then blasted a three-run shot to left. Just like that the Yellow Jackets led 6 - 5.

Charlie White lead off with a single up the middle, then swiped second. Lowe walked. Wade laid down a bunt and was able to reach, loading the bases. Cieri grounded into a double play, but White scored the tying run.

Questionable call robs the Terps

In the bottom of the seventh Cuas walked. He was advanced to second on a bunt by Lewis. That brought in Tech's closer, RHP Dusty Isaacs. Kyle Convissar singled to left and Cuas went to third. Kevin Martir tried to lay down a safety squeeze on a pitch that was high and tight. Unfortunately the bunt was hit too hard, so Cuas was thrown out at the plate. With runners at first and second, White singled. Andrew Amaro (pinch running for Convissar) tried to score on the play. The catcher tried to make a sweep tag that was apparently too late. Plus, it looked like he missed the tag.  Unbelievably, Amaro was called out.

Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings.

We go to extra innings

Ruse retired the side in order once again in the top of the tenth.

With one out in the bottom of the tenth Lowe singled for his fourth hit of the day. Wade followed with a single to center. Cieri hit a chopper to first, but the runners advanced. Schmit struck out to end the inning.

Ruse got all three batters in the eleventh, now having retired 11 straight Yellow Jackets.

In the top of the twelfth Spingola hit a soft grounder that Lowe misplayed. Matt Gonzales followed with a single to left field. Ruse was replaced by Kevin Mooney. Ruse had gone five full innings, at this point shutting out the Yellow Jackets on three hits. Smith singled to center, and GA Tech had taken the lead. With runners on the corners, Murray was intentionally walked. The strategy didn't work as Keenan Innis walked, bringing home the runner from third. Justus blooped a single to center, Gold walked and the Yellow Jackets now led 10 - 6. A wild pitch and two sacrifice fly balls brought in three more runs.

There were two quick Terrapin outs in the bottom of the twelfth. Lowe walked to get on base for the seventh time today.

The Terps had pounded out 16 hits. But a few running blunders, four errors, and a terrible call at the plate was a bridge to far for the Terps to cross. However, as tough as this loss was to swallow, it must be remembered that the Terps had taken the series.

Bobby Ruse took the loss to go 4 - 2. The Terps fell to 24 - 14 on the season, 9 - 11 in the ACC.