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Maryland Walks Off With 4-3 Win Against Baseball
March 21, 2009 | Baseball
March 21, 2009
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Taylor Buran delivered a pinch hit RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give Maryland a 4-3 walk off win against the Boston College baseball team Saturday afternoon at Shipley Field.
In the ninth inning, Maryland's A.J. Casario and David Poutier hit consecutive singles with one out to put runners on first and second. Buran then came on to pinch hit and took the first pitch he saw the opposite way to right field. Junior Barry Butera gunned the ball home and junior Tony Sanchez blocked the plate, but Casario met Sanchez at the same time as the ball arrived and he scored the game-winning run.
Butera went 2-for-4 in the game for the Eagles (12-6, 3-3 ACC) with a run. Sanchez hit his fifth home run of the season in the third inning. Sophomore John Leonard got the start on the mound and threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits.
BC got on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. Butera led off the frame with a sharp single through the middle and then freshman Brad Zapenas sacrificed him into scoring position. With two outs, sophomore Garret Smith chopped a single through the middle to score Butera and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Terrapins responded immediately in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own to take the lead. Mike Murphy started with a walk and then Will Greenberg doubled down the first base line after his grounder hit the bag and went over the glove of junior Mike Belfiore. After a pair of pop outs in the infield, Gerry Spessard singled through the right side and got both runs home to put Maryland up, 2-1.
The Eagles put up two more runs in the third to regain the lead, 3-2. Sanchez led off the frame with a tremendous at-bat, following off six pitches with two strikes on him to force a full count. On the 12th pitch, he took a Scott Swinson delivery well over the wall in center to tie the game, 2-2.
Sophomore Mickey Wiswall walked on the next at-bat and then Belfiore sacrificed him to second. Butera drove a shot into center for a single but it was hit too hard to score Wiswall who advanced to third. Zapenas got him home though when he laid down a perfect bunt to the left side of the infield to give BC the lead again.
Maryland tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a run. Dan Benick led off with a single through the left side and then Casario reached on a fielder's choice that forced Benick out at second. Poutier then singled up the middle to put two men on. Murphy stepped to the plate and sent a ball into the gap in left to score Casario but Poutier was thrown out at the plate by Smith from short left to end the inning.
Casario and Poutier both had three hits for the Terps (10-10, 3-5 ACC) while Casario added two runs, including the game-winner. Greenberg and Alfredo Rodriguez added a pair of hits while Spessard drove in two. Swinson tossed 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on five hits.
The series finale between the two teams is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday at Shipley Field.
