Maryland baseball: Terps edge Irish 3 - 2 to get the sweep

The Terps looked to complete the sweep against the Fighting Irish today on Senior Day at Shipley Field. Maryland sent out Jake Drossner (4 - 1, 2.28 ERA) vs. freshman RHP Ryan Smoyer (0 - 0, 7.36 ERA). This is his second start of the season. He only went 2.1 innings today, as Notre Dame trotted out a committee of pitchers.

The seniors being honored today included Blake Schmitt, Brady Kirkpatrick, Jake Stinnett, Michael Montville, Kyle Convissar, Ben Brewster, and Jamie Pashuck. In a nice gesture these players' number were stenciled in chalk onto the outfield.

Notre Dame manufactures two runs

Drossner looked sharp, allowing only a single through two innings while striking out four. In the top of the third Robert Youngdahl hit a lazy grounder just over the first base line for a double. He was bunted over to third. Kyle Fiala hit a weak grounder that Schmitt fielded, but his only play was at first. Notre Dame led 1 - 0.

In the bottom of the inning Kevin Martir drew a lead-off walk. After two hard fly outs Brandon Lowe stroked a single to right. But Jose Cuas grounded out to third. The Terps were hitting the ball but remained without a run through three innings.

The Terps looked like they might break through in the fourth inning. Schmitt and Tim Lewis hit singles through the infield. But Convissar popped a bunt up, and Lewis was easily doubled up at first base. Anthony Papio lined out to right and the Terps were stymied. Maryland had out hit ND 5 - 2 but still trailed.

The fifth inning was a lucky one for the Irish. Cavan Biggio drew a lead-off walk, and was bunted to second. Youngdahl flew out to deep right, with Biggio taking third. Kevin DeFillipis hit a swinging bunt that Drossner fielded but threw wide to first. Notre Dame had scratched out another run.

Terps score two in the fifth

In the bottom of the fifth Martir got on base via a throwing error by ND's third baseman. White tried to bunt for a hit but was thrown out. Wade doubled down the right field line and Martir scored. Lowe was intentionally walked. Cuas hit a grounder to short, forcing out Lowe; Wade took third. Schmitt hit a rope to right for an RBI single and the score was tied. Lewis flied out to center to end the inning.

Once again the Irish got the lead-off man on base as Kyle Richardson hit a single to center. That ended Drossner's day and brought on Bobby Ruse. Drossner had allowed only four hits and two walks, striking out seven. Ryan Bull skied out, then Richardson was gunned down trying to swipe second: it was Martir's second runner he had thrown out this game. Blaise Lezynski looked at a called third strike to end the Irish sixth.

Papio's blast puts the Terps on top

In the bottom of the sixth the Terps took their first lead of the day. With one out Papio homered to right field. It was only the eighth homer that the Notre Dame hurlers had surrendered all season. The Terps were up on top 3 - 2 after six innings.

Ruse retired the Irish 1-2-3 in the seventh. The Terps didn't score in the seventh either. In the top of the eighth Jamie Pashuck came in to pitch for the Terrapins. The senior southpaw struck out Youngdahl. Kevin Mooney then entered the game for Maryland to try and close out the game. He fanned the first batter, then got the final out on a grounder.

The Terps went down in order in their half of the eighth.

Mooney is money

Conor Biggio pinch hit to begin the ninth. He went down swinging, the 11^th Irish hitter to fan this afternoon. Bull grounded out to Lowe. Lezynski lined a shot that Lewis looked like he might grab, but he slipped and the ball went over his head for a double. However Mooney got Johnson to hit a grounder to Lowe, and that was all she wrote.

Bobby Ruse picked up the win to move to 5 - 2. Mooney got his eighth save of the season.

The Terps are now 28 - 19 overall, 12 - 14 in the ACC.