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Today’s starting pitchers were Jake Stinnett (5 – 6, 2.63 ERA) for Maryland vs. RHP Rhys Aldenhoven, Sr., (R) (2-2, 3.71) Aldenhoven is a senior and hails from Australia. Last year Aldenhoven sported an 8 – 1 record. He hasn’t been as effective in 2014, and today would be no exception.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 6:00 PM, but was moved up to 3:00 PM due to a forecast of severe thunderstorms in the evening.
Wild pitch gives Pitt their only lead
In the first two innings the Terps had a runner in scoring position with two outs, but didn’t get the clutch hit. In the bottom of the second Pitt drew first blood. With one out Dylan Wolsonovich singled past a diving Blake Schmitt. Eric Hess punched a single through the right side and Wolsonovich went to third. Matt Johnson walked to load the bases. With the light-hitting Caleb Parry up, Stinnett threw a wild pitch which and Wolsonovich scored easily, the other runners also advancing. Parry ended up striking out, as did Manny Pazos. But the Panthers were on top 1 – 0.
Terps get six two-out hits; put a nine spot up on the board
In the top of the third LaMonte Wade lined a one-out double down the right field line. After Brandon Lowe fanned, Jose Cuas delivered the much-needed two out hit: a double off the right field wall. Schmit walked, and Tim Lewis singled in Cuas to put the Terps in front. But Maryland wasn’t done. Anthony Papio smoked a double that scored Lewis, and Nick Cieri hit a grounder that the second baseman bobbled. Kevin Martir was HBP. Charlie White singled to right, and Cieri just beat the throw home. The Terps led 6 – 1 and that was it for Aldenhoven. He was relieved by LHP Andrew Belfiglio. Wade hit an infield single, and then Lowe was HBP to force in the Terps’ seventh run of the inning. Jose Cuas delivered his second two out hit of the inning, a single to center that brought home two more Terrapin runs. Schmit checked his swing and Cuas was caught between first and second. Lowe tried to score and was thrown out at the plate. But after two and a half innings the Terps were in front 9 – 1.
In the bottom half of the inning the Panthers had men on second and third with one out. But Stinnett struck out the next two hitters, his third and fourth of the game.
Terrapins continue to score
In the Terps’ fourth Schmit started things off by lining a double down the left field line; the Terps’ fifth in three innings plus. Lewis grounded to first with Schmit taking third. Belfiglio hit Papio with a pitch. Cieri hit a high chopper to second in which the only play was to first. Lewis scored the tenth Maryland run. Martir grounded back to the pitcher for the final out.
The question remained: How would Stinnett respond after being staked to such a big lead? In the bottom of the fourth inning Johnson hit a one out single. Parry blooped a single to right to put men on first and second. But Pazos hit a made-to-order double play ground ball to Schmit. Through four innings Stinnett had given up five hits, more than he typically allows in a complete game outing.
Terrapins add six more runs in the fifth inning
In the Terrapins’ fifth White hit a single to shallow left field. Wade was HBP, as was Lowe. That was it for Belfiglio, with RHP J R Leonardi coming in to face a bases loaded, no out situation. Leonardi had pitched in only two games this year, and you had to believe that at this point Pitt had conceded the game. Cuas hit a slow grounder to third and was thrown out at first; White scored. A wild pitch brought Wade home with the 12th Terrapin run of the game. Schmit walked to put runners on the corners. Lewis fouled off a number of pitches before drawing a walk. On a 0 – 2 pitched Papio launched a double to left center field for two more RBIs. Cieri followed up with a single to right that brought in two more runs. The Terps now led 16 – 1.
Terps show no mercy
In the sixth inning RHP Sam Mersing came in to pitch. Rather than Mersing it would have been better if there was a Mercy Rule in baseball as there is in softball. The only items of interest left were how long Stinnett would pitch and how many strike outs he would get. As it turned out Stinnett would go six innings, giving up one run on six hits, two walks, and striking out four. Brandon Casas took over in the bottom of the seventh inning. He gave up a hit and a walk but no runs.
The Terps opened the eighth inning with consecutive doubles by Martir and White. Two outs later Cuas singled Martir home. It was now 18 – 1.
Robert Galligan pitched the eighth for Maryland and held Pitt scoreless.
Mercy, mercy me. The Terps tacked on three more in the top of the ninth. Andrew Amaro was HBP. Michael Montville singled to right. After Kyle Convissar flied out to right, Martir unloaded one over the left field wall. It was Martir’s second home run of the season.
Galligan continued on the mound in the ninth. He allowed two hits but no runs.
The Terps had pounded out 18 hits, including eight doubles and a home run. Maryland's pitchers limited the Panthers to nine hits, only one of which was for extra bases.
Jake Stinnett got the win to move to 6 – 6 on the year. The Terps had won six straight games and now had a 31 – 19 record overall, 13 – 14 in the ACC.