Never Say Die: Terps Walk-Off in Game One of Columbia Regional
Maryland did not play their best baseball on Friday afternoon. Jake Stinnett threw a couple pitches where he did not want to. The defense did not make a few plays they should have. The offense did not get key hits when they needed to with runners in scoring position.
But, in the style of the 2014 Maryland Terrapins, they never said die. When they had the opportunity to lay down and quit, they didn’t. And, despite being stifled at the plate for eight innings, Maryland pulled out victory from the jaws of defeat, beating Old Dominion on a walk-off hit by pitch 4-3.
Jake Stinnett was not the best he has ever been, but he still turned in a gutsy, solid outing. Stinnett threw eight innings of 3-run ball, and he set the Maryland single season strikeout record in the process. However, it looked as if his effort would be wasted, as his counterparts Andy Roberts and Ryan Yarbrough were even better. Roberts started the game and pitched well; he did not allow a run in 4.2 innings. Yarbrough stranded the bases loaded in the fifth, and he pitched out of several jams. The Monarch offense was not powerful, but they were able to scratch out three big runs: one on an error by second baseman Brandon Lowe, one on a swinging bunt, and one on a sac fly.
The a Terps had a crucial chance in the eighth. They loaded the bases with 0 outs, but Blake Schmit grounded into a double play. Maryland scored a run, but they could have scored more. Tayler Stiles ended the game and pitched a scoreless ninth for the Terps.
The Terps finally broke through in the ninth. Kyle Convissar led off with a double, and Kevin Martir followed with a single. Charlie White fell behind 0-2 to ODU pitcher Brad Gero, but he was able to punch a single into center field to cut the lead to 3-2. LaMonte Wade walked to load the bases. Then, Gero hit Lowe with a pitch to score the tying run, and he hit Jose Cuas with the next pitch to give the Terps an improbable walk-off victory.
The Terps play the winner of the South Carolina-Campbell game tomorrow in the winner’s bracket.
