After scoring two runs in the first seven innings, Maryland scored nine in the final two innings to cruise to an 11-4 win over Radford in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday.
The big blow came in the eighth inning after Radford’s bullpen had settled into the game. With the game tied at two, Maryland scored six runs in the frame. Nick Dunn blasted a three-run home run to top off the rally for the Terps, who added three more in the ninth.
Taylor Bloom was solid in this game, going at least seven innings for the third straight outing. Through six innings, Bloom’s only issue was an unearned run he allowed in the second on a Matt Roth double. Starting in the seventh, Bloom began to lose some steam. He allowed a run on two hits in the seventh, and surrendered a two-run home run in the eighth to cut the lead to four. However, Bloom finished eight innings, giving his team a chance to win. In total, he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.
In the top of the third, Maryland manufactured its first run. Richie Schiekofer walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a Justin Morris single, moved to third on a Randy Bednar flyout and scored on a Marty Costes sac fly to tie the game at 1-1. The Terps then went on to load the bases in the inning, but Taylor Wright stranded three with a pop fly to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, Maryland put men on the corners with no one out, which ended Radford starter Ryan Sande’s day. Sande allowed two runs on two hits and four walks in his three innings of work. After the pitching change, Schiekofer brought in the man on third with a fielders choice, giving Maryland a 2-1 lead.
Radford scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Terps immediately went to work in the eighth. AJ Lee tripled to lead off the inning, and he scored on a Kevin Biondic double. Biondic later scored on a wild pitch, followed by a Will Watson run with the bases loaded on a Zach Jancarski sac fly. Dunn then broke it open with his home run.
After Radford cut the lead to four in the bottom of the eighth, the Terps kept piling it on in the ninth. Bednar hit his second collegiate home run, a three-run shot, giving Maryland even more breathing room to finish the game.
Biondic, who had great game both offensively and defensively, relieved Bloom in the bottom of the ninth. The righty executed a 1-2-3 inning to close out the game.
Maryland looks to extend its three-game winning streak Saturday as it takes on tournament host Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m. ET.