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On Friday night the Terps defeated Ole Miss 3-1, and UCLA took care of CS-Bakersfield by a 7-2 margin. That set up Saturday evening's match-up, with Maryland sending Brian Shaffer (5-1, 4.73 era) vs. UCLA's LHP Grant Watson (8-4, 2.16 era).
Wade's arm limits the Bruins to one run
UCLA pushed across a first inning run. Kevin Kramer hit a grounder to the hole at short, and beat it out for an infield single. Ty Moore was HBP. Then Luke Persico laid down a bunt that looked like it was going to roll foul; it didn't, and the bases were loaded. A sac fly by Chris Keck put UCLA up 1-0. In the next inning UCLA threatened after two were out. Christoph Bono doubled, then Brett Stephens lined a single to center. LaMonte Wade's throw to home was right on the money, and Kevin Martir was able to tag out Bono.
Lewis' triple puts Terps ahead by a run
In the bottom of the inning, the Terps took a lead that they would not relinquish. Martir lined a single to center and Nick Cieri singled through the box. Tim Lewis looped a ball down the left field line. Stephens stretched out for it, but couldn't make the grab. The result was a two-run triple.
In a surprise move, Brian Shaffer was lifted for Bobby Ruse to start the third inning. When interviewed, interim head coach Jim Bellanger said that Shaffer had some soreness in his forearm. Ruse retired the side and looked sharp.
Wade's shot extends the Terps' lead
Leading off the bottom of the third, LaMonte Wade hit a rope over the right field wall for a solo home run. Kevin Smith then lined a double to right field, and was sacrificed to third. Martir hit a sharp grounder to second that scored Smith. After three innings the score was 4-1 Maryland.
UCLA mounted a serious threat after two were out in the top of the fourth. Kurt Peterson singled and Trent Chatteron walked. Rob Galligan replaced Ruse. Bono walked to load the bases, but Stephens grounded out to Lowe, leaving the bases full of Bruins.
Galligan, Mooney shut down UCLA
Galligan ended up throwing 4.1 innings of one-hit baseball, putting the clamps on UCLA's left-handed heavy line-up. In fact, Galligan retired the side in order in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. The Terps couldn't muster much either, ending up with only two more hits in the last five innings. Thus the game went to the ninth with the Terps holding onto a 4-1 lead. Kevin Mooney came in to pitch. He struck out the first two hitters, then got Chatterton to fly out to right field. With the victory the Terps need to win just one of two games against the victor in Sunday's game between CS-Bakersfield and UCLA.
Robert Galligan earned the victory to move to 4-4, while Kevin Mooney registered his 10th save. Maryland is now 41-21 on the season. The 41 wins sets a new school record for victories in a season, eclipsing last year's mark of 40.