Maryland baseball falls to William & Mary, 6-3, in 11 innings

Maryland failed to capitalize on a strong Mark DiLuia start Tuesday, falling to William & Mary 5-3 in 11 innings.

The Terps’ offense didn’t show up until the fifth inning and their bullpen continued to struggle, allowing five runs in five total innings.

DiLuia got off to a rough start, allowing two first inning hits, giving William & Mary an early 1-0 lead. However, DiLuia settled down from there to give Maryland his best start of the season. The righty worked around hits throughout the day, lasting six total innings. He allowed four hits and walked only one while striking out six.

Maryland’s offense was quiet for the first four innings, only working five walks without getting a hit. William & Mary starter Nick Butts left the game after four, which triggered the Terps’ offense. Butts pitched four innings without allowing a hit or run, but threw 69 pitches in that span to max him out.

With a new pitcher in the game, Maryland’s offense finally got a rally going. Taylor Wright lead off the fifth with a double to left, and Nick Dunn drove Wright in with a two-out, RBI single to center.

Mike Vasturia relieved DiLuia in the seventh, but he didn’t fare as well. The righty allowed a walk, hit-by-pitch and single to center, giving William & Mary a 2-1 lead. Yet, Maryland re-tied the game in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Nick Dunn double followed by a Marty Costes single.

Sean Fisher entered the eighth over Vasturia, but Colin Lipke immediately greeted him with a long home run to center field. After Fisher allowed a hit and got a strikeout, Rob Vaughn went to John Murphy for the final two outs.

In the bottom of the inning, Maryland once again tied the game. After Will Watson walked, Taylor Wright bunted, but Charlie Fletcher threw the ball into right field, allowing Watson to score and Wright to stand at third. After two two-out walks, Kevin Biondic couldn’t bring Wright home, keeping the game tied at three in after eight.

After Murphy worked a scoreless ninth, Maryland had a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning. A.J. Lee reached on an error and moved to second after Zach Jancarski’s sac bunt. Then Lee stole third on the first pitch, but Maryland stranded him there to end the inning.

After Biondic pitched a scoreless 10th, Elliot Zoellner struggled with command in the 11th. He hit two batters and loaded the bases after a William & Mary bunt single. Then, Lipke struck again, sending a single into right field, scoring two for a 5-3 Tribe lead. Grant Burleson came into limit damage, but he too had command issues, hitting two batters to bring in another run. Maryland pitching combined to hit six batters on the afternoon.

Maryland didn’t go away quietly, getting two men on with no one out to start the bottom of the inning. However, Watson struck out and both Wright and Randy Bednar grounded out to end the game.

Maryland finishes its homestand this weekend vs. Illinois, starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET.