Maryland hosted Miami for a three game series this weekend, and played them pretty evenly.
They lost the opening game, 1-0 in a 13 inning defensive battle. Senior LHP Jimmy Reed pitched nine full innings, fanning 10 batters while giving up just three hits and three walks. Brandon Casas came on in relief and pitched three solid innings, but went just a little too long. Miami freshman David Thompson doubled down the left field line and scored on a Brandon Lopez single off Kevin Mooney.
Saturday’s game featured more offense from both teams, and it was close throughout, but Miami clinched the series with a 5-3 victory as Bryan Radziewski put together a solid 6-inning performance to improve to 5-1 on the season for the ‘Canes.
Maryland took the finale this afternoon as junior RHP Jake Stinnett pitched a 7-inning gem, in the 7-2 victory. Sophomore infielder K.J. Hockaday started at third base and played terrific defense while going 3-for-4 at the plate. He scored two of Maryland’s seven runs, which tied their season-high vs ACC opponents.
The Terps now stand at 20-17 but are just 5-13 against their conference. In ACC play, they still have to host Virginia Tech and Boston College, and visit Duke and Clemson, before the postseason. They also have seven non-conference games on the schedule.
Maryland won 32 games last season, the second most in a single season in school history. They’re .571 winning percentage was the sixth best since their last conference championship in 1971 and the best since 2002.
Follow Cory on Twitter, @cpuffnfl.
