Maryland Takes First Game of Doubleheader from No. 19 Miami

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland scored a combined seven runs in the final two innings to collect a 10-2 upset of 19th-ranked University of Miami in the first game of Sunday’s Atlantic Coast Conference baseball doubleheader at Bob “Turtle” Thomas Stadium. The second game is set to begin at 2:35 p.m.

Maryland (17-19, 4-13 Atlantic Coast Conference) plated three runs in the eighth inning, and then broke the game wide open in the ninth with four runs for the victory. Miami (23-12, 12-4 ACC) was unable to get much going offensively, and made numerous defensive mistakes in suffering its first loss in the last 10 games.

Already on top 6-2 in the eighth inning, Ryan Holland’s RBI single was followed by Austin Kilbourne’s two-RBI double to score Holland and Michael Montville for the 10th and final run of the contest for the Terrapins.

Leading 3-1 in the seventh inning, Maryland ran the score to 4-1 off Hurricanes relief pitcher AJ Salcines after second baseman Ryan Holland singled through the right side for the Terps eighth hit of the afternoon. That hit scored leadoff hitter Charlie White from third.

Fellow freshman Sam Abrams relieved Salcines on the hill in the inning, but Maryland continued the hitting spree with Austin Kilbourne registering a sac fly to left, plating Alfredo Rodriguez. The lead increased to 6-1 with Tim Kiene’s RBI single to right that scored Ryan Holland from third.

Miami chipped into the lead in the top-half of the next frame after Nathan Melendres led off the inning with a standup double to right center. Harold Martinez then collected his third hit of the afternoon, driving in Melendres with a single to right, bringing the deficit down to 6-2.

The Terrapins erased zeros from the scoreboard early in the home-half of the first, taking advantage of a Whaley walk and a Brad Fieger error – setting up Austin Kilbourne’s two-out, two-RBI double to center that plated Alfredo Rodriguez and Ryan Holland for the 2-0 advantage.

Miami cut into the lead with a single run in the second frame, using Dale Carey ground-out RBI that scored Rony Rodriguez from third. Rodriguez walked and Harold Martinez doubled to put the runners on second and third, setting up the Carey RBI.

The Terrapins loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out, but Eric Whaley pitched his way out of the jam – drawing a pop-up to Martinez before striking out Austin Kilbourne.

The loss went to Whaley, who dropped to 5-2 on the campaign, while Maryland’s Brady Kirkpatrick earned his second win of the year in his second start. He upped his record to 2-1. Kirkpatrick went seven innings on the bump, allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out six.

In the loss, Whaley went tossed six full innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits and struck-out seven.

Miami was led at the plate by Harold Martinez with a 3-for-4 performance, including a RBI. Nathan Melendres added a double as his only hit, and Zeke DeVoss recorded a hit in his seventh consecutive game.

The Maryland offense was carried by five batters with a multi-hit game, paced by the 3-for-4 game by Alfredo Rodriguez. Austin Kilbourne was 2-for-4 with a game-high five RBI. Ryan Holland added two RBI on two hits and scoring three times.

The second game of the doubleheader will begin at 2:35 p.m.

Live stats for the game will be provided through Game Tracker at HurricaneSports.com. Fans can also join the live chat, provided by Cover It Live, by visiting HurricaneSports.com as well.

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