COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Down 5-0 in the early stages of Tuesday's game against Old Dominion, the University of Maryland baseball team's 13-game, non-conference winning streak appeared to be in jeopardy. However, an AJ Casario grand slam and some brilliant work out of the bullpen helped the Terrapins erase the deficit and eventually win the game, 6-5, in the 10th inning.

The Monarchs (18-20) scored four runs off Terps starter Ian Schwalenberg (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) in the top of the second inning and added one more in the fourth before the Terps chipped into the lead in a big way.

Down five runs entering the bottom of the fourth, the Terps (25-18) proceeded to load the bases with no outs. With one out and the bases still full, Dan Benick (Glen Lyon, Pa./Nanticoke) hit a hard line drive that was snagged by Old Dominion third baseman Jake McAloose. McAloose nearly doubled off Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) at third on the play, but Pupa hustled back in time to narrowly avoid the inning-ending double play.

Pupa's hustle paid serious dividends as Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) took a 2-2 pitch from starter Cory Toth and hit it over the fence in left-center field for a grand slam, cutting the deficit to 5-4. It was Casario's second grand slam in a week's span as he hit one in last week's victory at UMBC, as well.

The Terps pulled even in the seventh inning on an RBI single by first baseman Will Greenberg (Gaithersburg, Md./Washington College).

Both teams threatened to break the tie in the eighth inning. The Monarchs loaded the bases in the top half, but Brad Taylor (Silver Spring, Md./Good Counsel) worked out of the jam unscathed.

With two outs and a man on second in the bottom half, Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep) smoked what appeared to be a certain go-ahead hit to the right-center field gap. Unfortunately for the Terps, center fielder Jimmy Miles made an outstanding, diving catch for the third out.

The Terps plated the winning run in the 10th inning in unconventional fashion.

With two outs and two men on base, Greenberg hit a ground ball to second baseman Chris Keenan. Keenan's throw to first was on target but first baseman Anthony Shawler simply dropped the throw and a hustling Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) scored all the way from second on the play.

It was only Maryland's second extra-inning game of the season and first extra-inning win since April 20 last year at Duke.

Mike Sufczynski (Darnestown, Md./St. John's), Taylor, Adam Kolarek (Baltimore, Md./Catonsville) and Dan Gentzler (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) combined to shut out the Monarchs over the final six innings, allowing only four hits.

Gentzler picked up the win to improve to 2-0 in the season, throwing the final 1 2/3 innings. Kyle Hald was the losing pitcher.

Greenberg led the Terps with three hits. Casario, Jowers and Pupa had two hits apiece for the Terps.

Video of the game can be seen online at ACCSelect.com

Maryland plays at 3 p.m. tomorrow at in-state rival Towson. Towson defeated Maryland earlier this season, 11-6.

-TERPS-

 

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