Maryland Outlasts Duke, 9-8, In 12 Innings

Sunday, March 5

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Maryland

Six-Run First Leads No. 1 Florida State To 15-5 Win Over Duke

Maryland Outlasts Duke, 9-8, In 12 Innings

3/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Right fielder Dan Benick hit the game-winning RBI-single in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Maryland Terrapins a 9-8 victory over the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in the ACC while the Terrapins improve to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in league action.

Maryland scored four runs in the sixth and one run in the ninth to overcome a five-run deficit to send the game into extra innings.

With the scored knotted at 8-8 entering the bottom half of the 12th, pinch hitter Matt Maropis drew a two-out walk and then advanced to second on a single by catcher Chad Durakis. After Maropis moved to third on a wild pitch, Benick laced the game-winning RBI-single to left field to give the Terrapins the 2-1 series win over the Blue Devils.

Maryland took a 3-0 lead in the second. Third baseman Mike Murphy led off the inning with a bunt single before stealing second base. After designated hitter Jordan Wilson drew a walk, Durakis laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up a base. Benick then grounded out to third before left fielder Wink Nolan drew a walk to load the bases. Center fielder Nick Jowers followed with a bases-clearing double to left center, giving the Terps the three-run lead.

Duke took a 4-3 lead in the third on a grand slam by center fielder Jimmy Gallagher. Second baseman Kyle Kreick singled up the middle to start the inning. Pitcher Jonathan Anderson followed with a single to left to give the Blue Devils runners on first and second. After left fielder Javier Socorro flew out to right and catcher Matt Williams lined out to center, shortstop Brett Bartles drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Gallagher then smashed the first pitch of the at-bat over the right field wall for his first home run of the season.

The Blue Devils scored on an RBI-groundout by Anderson in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Duke pushed its lead to 8-3 with a three-run frame. Gallagher drew a two-out walk and stole second to give the Blue Devils a runner in scoring position. With Gallagher breaking for third on a 2-0 pitch, third baseman Adam Murray lined an RBI-single to center, scoring Gallagher to give Duke a three-run advantage. Murray would then advance to second on a passed ball, advance to third on an errant pickoff attempt and then score on a balk. Right fielder Tim Sherlock then drew a walk before advancing to third on a single by first baseman Jonathan Nicolla. Sherlock would then score Duke's final run of the game on a wild pitch.

The Terps would use a four-run sixth inning to make it a one-run game. First baseman Gerry Spessard tripled to right center to lead off the inning. Second baseman Dan Melvin then singled to center field to score Spessard. After Murphy reached on a bunt single, Wilson singled down the right field line to score Melvin from second. After consecutive fly outs by Durakis and Benick, Nolan capped the inning with a two-run triple down the right field line, scoring Murphy and Wilson.

Trailing 8-7 entering the bottom of the ninth, Jowers doubled down the left field line to start the inning. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Steve Braun, Jowers scored the tying run on a hard-hit groundout to first to force extra innings.

Left-hander Brett Cecil (3-1) worked 4.0 scoreless innings to pick up his third win of the season. Cecil, who retired 12-of-15 batters he faced, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the 12th inning for the Terps. Duke reliever Jim Perry (0-2) suffered his second loss of the year, allowing one run on one hit in 0.2 innings pitched.

Gallagher led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Williams and Nicolla would both add a pair of hits on the day. Anderson went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Murray was 1-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored and Kreick went 1-for-4 with a run scored for Duke.

Jowers went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Terps. Melvin was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored while Braun and Murphy both collected two hits in the game. Nolan added a 1-for-4, two-RBI performance while Spessard, Melvin, Wilson and Benick all drove in one run apiece.

The Blue Devils will return to action with a mid-week two-game series against La Salle at Jack Coombs Field. Tuesday and Wednesday's games are slated for a 3 p.m. start.

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