Box Score

Maryland 5, VT 2

 

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Curtis Lazar's three-run homer powered the University of Maryland to a 5-2 victory and an Atlantic Coast Conference series win against Virginia Tech at English Field on Sunday.

Tech, which won Friday's opening game before losing on Saturday to the Terrapins, fell to 11-20 on the season and 1-14 in the conference with the loss. The Terps improved to 18-14 overall and 5-10 in the ACC with their first series win of the year.

After combining for 36 runs during their first two games, the two teams found scoring a bit harder on Sunday. Maryland starting pitcher Kevin Biringer worked into the seventh inning, allowing just two runs on the way to his third win against one loss. Brad Taylor, who entered the game in the ninth inning with a runner aboard, picked up his third save of the year.

Tech senior left-hander Andrew Wells (Alexandria, Va.) took the loss. Wells, now 0-3, scattered eight hits over six innings, allowing all five runs.

Both teams finished the game with 10 hits. Center fielder Nick Jowers paced the Terps with three singles and two runs scored in four trips, while Lazar drove in four of Maryland's five runs. Tech got two hits apiece from designated hitter Matt Blow (Richmond, Va.), second baseman Austin Wates (Richmond, Va.) and center fielder Sean Ryan (Ashburn, Va.).

Maryland, which built early leads in each of the first two games of the series, picked up a first-inning run. Terrapin second baseman Steve Braun opened the game with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Murphy and came home during a groundout to first by designated hitter Jensen Pupa.

The Terps added another run in the fourth. Jowers got things started that inning with a lead-off single. Left fielder Gerry Spessard drew a walk and right fielder Dan Benick moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Jowers scored as first baseman Lazar grounded out to first base.

After being held scoreless for three innings by Biringer, the Hokies manufactured a pair runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score. Tech first baseman Sean O'Brien (Chappaqua, N.Y.) opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a grounder to first. Right fielder Klint Reed's bad-hop single past third baseman Murphy brought O'Brien home with the first run of the inning. Reed (Chesterfield, Va.) stole second base and then scored on a single to right field off the bat of Blow.

Freshman Lazar gave Maryland the lead for good with his first collegiate home run, a three-run blast to right in the sixth inning. Jowers' third lead-off single of the game and a walk by Benick preceded Lazar's one-out homer.

Tech's next game is scheduled for Tuesday when the Hokies play host to Davidson at English Field. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.