Maryland baseball: No. 20 Terps blacken Blue Hens 9-4

Freshman RHP Taylor Bloom (0-1, 514 era) was making his second start in as many weeks for the Terrapins. Last week Bloom took the loss in Maryland's 3-1 defeat to VCU, with the freshman allowing just a single earned run in four innings.

Maryland builds an early nest egg

In the top of the second, Kevin Martir and Jose Cuas hit back-to-back singles. When Anthony Papio drew a walk the bases were loaded with none out. The first Terrapin run came home when Jamal Wade was HBP. Kengo Kawahara struck out looking and Justin Morris popped out to third. With LaMonte Wade batting, Delaware's catcher tried to pick off Jamal Wade at first. His throw went into right field and Cuas scored. LaMonte Wade then sliced a single to left that put Maryland up 4-0.

Brock Niggebrugge hit a double of the left-center field wall. Joe Giacchino laid down a nice bunt for a base hit. Thus, Delaware had runners on the corners with no outs. Niggebrugge scored on a passed ball, and then Zach Lopes walked. Bloom struck out Norm Donkin and got Diaz Nardo to pop out. Ex-Terrapin Greg Olenski lined out to Kawahara to end the inning.

With one out in the following inning, Nick Leggitt hit a shot of the center field wall for a triple. Ty Warrington lined a double down the third base line. One out later, Giacchino laced a shot that Martir was able to knock down, but couldn't find the handle to throw out the Blue Hen. That saved a run when Bloom caught Giacchino leaning, and Lowe's throw to third caught Warrington diving back in.

Maryland scored a run in the fifth. Kevin Smith opened the inning by lining a single to right. Brandon Lowe was HBP and Martir walked, loading the bases.  Cuas hit into a 6-4-3 double play, with Smith scoring the Terps' fifth run.

The Blue Hens immediately got the run back. Lopes hit a leadoff double, and went to third on a ground out. Nardo cracked a single to score Lopes. Bloom then struck out the next two batters.

Terps go up by six runs

In the Terrapin half of the sixth, Justin Morris walked and LaMonte Wade doubled. A wild pitch brought Morris home. Smith walked.  Lowe's bunt scored Wade, and the Terps led 7-3. Martir's third single of the day made it 8-3.

Bobby Ruse relieved Bloom in the sixth. Bloom's final line: 5ip, 7h, 3r, 2bb, 3so. Ruse was throwing strikes and quickly dispatched the Blue Hens.

Delaware's pitching staff continued to miss the plate in the following inning. Papio walked and Jamal Wade was HBP for the second time today. Kawahara walked to load the bases. After Morris struck out, LaMonte Wade walked to bring in a run.

Giacchino led off the bottom half of the inning by hitting a triple to right center. Lopes hit a Baltimore chopper for an infield hit that scored Giacchino. After two outs, Olenski singled and took second on the throw to third. Scott walked, and the bases were loaded. But Leggitt skied out to end the inning.

Ryan Selmer and Alex Robinson each pitched a scoreless inning.

Taylor Bloom got his first collegiate victory to go 1-1. With the win, Maryland has taken five straight games and stand at 32-13.