May 30, 2014

Box Score | Box Score | Post-Game Notes | Post-Game Quotes

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Second-seeded Maryland erased a two-run ninth-inning deficit to defeat third-seeded Old Dominion, 4-3, on Friday afternoon in game one of the NCAA Columbia Regional at Carolina Stadium.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Terrapins (37-21) trimmed the Monarchs’ lead to 3-2 on a RBI single by center fielder Charlie White. LaMonte Wade drew a walk to load the bases with one out before Brandon Lowe and Jose Cuas were hit by pitches from Old Dominion’s Brad Gero in back-to-back at bats to score Kevin Martir and White, giving Maryland the walk-off win.

With the victory, the Terrapins will face the winner of the South Carolina-Campbell matchup on Saturday at 7 p.m. Old Dominion will play the loser in an elimination game on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Maryland tallied 10 hits on the afternoon, including a 3-for-4 effort from Cuas. Old Dominion finished with seven hits, with catcher Mike Perez and shortstop Tyler Urps producing two apiece. Urps also drove in two runs.

Terrapin reliever Tayler Stiles (4-2) earned the win, giving up one hit and striking out two in one scoreless inning of work. Maryland starter Jake Stinnett worked eight innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out seven batters. With the seven strikeouts, Stinnett set Maryland’s single-season strikeout record, pushing his season total to 130.

Gero (3-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs, a hit and hitting two batters in the ninth.

The Monarchs (36-25) struck first in the top of the third. After Perez drove a triple to the gap in left center, Urps singled to right field to drive in Perez and give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.

Old Dominion added to its lead in the fifth. Designated hitter Ben Slaton led off the inning with an infield single and later advanced to third on a single to right center by Perez. Urps then chopped an infield single down the third-base line to drive home Slaton, giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Old Dominion third baseman P.J. Higgins led off with a single, stole second and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Eldridge to push the Monarchs’ lead to 3-0.

Maryland loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth but only manufactured one run. Wade, Lowe and Cuas delivered back-to-back-to-back singles to begin the inning for the Terrapins. However, shortstop Blake Schmit grounded into a double play, scoring Wade from third to cut the Monarchs’ lead to 3-1. Old Dominion reliever Conner Overton then ended the threat by striking out left fielder Tim Lewis. However, the Terrapins rallied for three runs in the ninth for the win.

Both of Saturday’s games will be streamed live on ESPN3. Live stats will be available at Gamecocksonline.com.