Maryland baseball: Terps lose extra-inning thriller to Fullerton, 1-0

Injury update: Tayler Stiles suffered a broken orbital bone and is undergoing surgery on Monday. If you'd like to extend your best wishes, his twitter handle is: @GotStiles_

LaMonte Wade & Tim Lewis should be good to go in the upcoming midweek games.

Nick Cieri's hand is mending and the team hopes to have him back in time for the B1G tournament.

Thus, the line-up remained intact over that from the first two games in the series. That meant Maryland had five freshman starting, including the #6-#9 hitters. Also, with Galligan pressed into a long outing yesterday, Drossner was given the starting job today.

A good sign for Terrapin fans was Drossner came out throwing strikes. He retired the side in order in the first inning, aided by an incredible play by Joes Cuas.

Classic pitchers duel

Lots of loud outs for the Terps in the first. Brandon Lowe lined a shot into right-center field that Tyler Stieb was able to run down. Kevin Smith stroked a single to right center. After Kevin Martir was HBP. Jose Cuas sent a liner to the center field fence that Stieb made a web gem play on. It turned out to be a game-saver. Although the Terps hit Gavin hard, they came away empty, thanks to Mr. Stieb.

Through three innings, Drossner had faced the minimum number of batters, allowing only a single to Stieb, who was later erased on a double play. After a shaky first, Gavin settled down. The game was scoreless after three innings.

It remained so for the next three innings. The best scoring opportunity came with two outs in the Terrapin sixth. Cuas drew a walk. Papio then hit a swinging bunt that looked destined for the third out, but the first baseman couldn't handle the throw. Jamal Wade hit a grounder in the hole, but the shortstop made a nice play to quell the Terrapin threat.

Josh Vargas hit a slow roller that ended up in no man's land for a leadoff single. It was only the third hit of the game for Fullerton. Josh Estill hit into a force out. After a fly out, Stieb drew a walk. It was the first time today that Fullerton had two men aboard. However, Drossner induced Scott Hurst to hit an inning-ending ground out.

Which side will blink first?

Drossner was still on the mound for the Terps in the eighth. He retired the side in order, making it the longest outing of his Terrapin career. Drossner's line: 8ip, 3h, 0r, 1bb, 6so.

RHP Miles Chambers came in for Fullerton to pitch the eighth. He retired the side in order, two of the hitters on strike outs.

Alex Robinson was on the bump for the Terps in the ninth inning. Dustin Vaught was HBP. ON an 0-2 pitch Josh Vargas was hit, putting runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Tanner Pinkston sacrificed the runners over to second and third. Jake Jeffries hit a sharp grounder to Morris, who threw home to nab Vaught. Onan 0-2 count to Stieb, Fullerton executed a double steal. However, Stieb ended up grounding out to Cuas; the Terps had escaped a major threat.

Cuas opened the bottom of the ninth with a single past the diving shortstop. Papio hit a grounder that look destined for a single. But Taylor Brandt cut it off and got Papio at first. Jamal Wade struck out. Fullerton brought in their closer, LHP Tyler Peitzmeier. Kawahara ran the count to 3-2 before striking out. The Terps were headed to their first extra-inning game of the season.

Robinson retired the first two hitters in the tenth, before Taylor Bryant hit a 3-2 pitch for a home run. It was his first home run the sophomore's career. Suddenly the Terps trailed in this nail biter.

Morris grounded out for the first out in the bottom of the tenth. Pinch hitter Kevin Biondic also grounded out. With two outs, Lowe singled to left field. However Smith grounded out to end the game.

Alex Robinson took the loss to fall to 1-1. The Terps are now 27-11 on the season.