Broom sweeps the wrong way Eagles brush aside Terps 5-2

Although they scratched out two ninth inning runs, the Maryland Terrapins baseball team managed to make Boston College Sunday starter Jeff Burke look like the ace of the Eagles' staff as BC completed the three game sweep of the visiting Terrapins winning 5-2 in Chestnut Hill Sunday afternoon. The loss dropped Maryland to 25-18 overall and 9-14 in ACC play. The Terps' chances post-season aren't dead. They aren't even on life support yet but they are in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room. We'll take a look at that in Monday's series recap.

Charlie White got Maryland started in the top of the first when he was hit by a pitch and stole second for his twenty-second of the season. However, Burke, despite tossing a wild pitch that moved White to third, retired the side in order to get out of the inning undamaged.

For the Terrapins, starter Jake Drossner retired the first five batters he faced before giving up a two out double to Eagles' center fielder Tom Bourdon. Drossner should have gotten out of the inning but LaMonte Wade misplayed John Hennessey's grounder allowing the ball to go through his legs and Bourdon to score from second putting BC in front for the third consecutive game.

Burke retired nine straight Maryland batters before Brandon Lowe walked to open the Terps' fourth. After advancing to second on a balk, Wade bunted him to third with one out. He tried to score on Nick Cieri's bouncer (bunt?) to the pitcher but Burke threw him out at the plate. Boston College catcher Nick Sciortino then picked Cieri off first to end the inning.

As a good team will, BC made Maryland pay for not taking advantage of a scoring chance in the top of the inning by adding to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Again, a Maryland error contributed to the home team's success. The Eagles opened the inning with back to back singles and the runners moved up to second and third on White's error. A ground out to short brought home the run. But Drossner shut the door and kept the Terps well within striking distance down only 2-0 through the seventh inning when the Eagles threatened but didn't score. For the day, the sophomore right hander pitched six and two-thirds walking only one while striking out seven. He gave up two runs only one of which was earned.

Meanwhile, after their mild threat in the fourth, only two Maryland batters reached base through the eighth inning. Lowe led off the seventh with a ground ball single to right but was doubled up on Wade's liner to second. Jose Cuas was the only other Terrapin to reach drawing a one out walk in the eighth.

Boston College out up three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth when Gabriel Hernandez reached base on the Terps' third error of the day to open the inning. After Kevin Mooney, who had come on to get the last out in the Eagles' seventh, gave up a walk and a single to load the bases, Alex Robinson came on in relief. He promptly gave up a two run single to the weekend's hitting star, Chris Shaw. BC added one more before leaving the bases loaded and the Terps found themselves looking at a five run deficit to oopen the ninth.

Pinch hitting for Andrew Amaro, Mike Rescigno drew a walk to open the inning. Charlie White's double to right put runners on second and third and ended Burke's day. Though he would eventually be charged with those two runs, the righty, who entered the game with a record of 0-5 and a 5.25 ERA, would get the win after facing only 28 batters in eight innings plus two men. The two  ninth inning runs were far too little too late.

Maryland returns home for midweek games against James Madison at 4 pm on Tuesday and St. Joseph's at 6 pm on Wednesday.