Simply put, this was a frustrating loss for the Terrapin baseball team.
The Terps lost to James Madison, 6-4, last night in a game that rightfielder Truan Mehl described as “a lack of focus.” The loss is the Terps’ third in their last four games.
The team’s disappointment was its inability to get key hits when needed. Despite connecting for 10 hits, the Terps left nine runners on base, five of who were in scoring position. In five of the nine innings, the Terps’ leadoff man reached base. After the game, head coach Terry Rupp delivered a longer than usual postgame speech to his team.
“We didn’t execute very well,” Rupp said. “We’ve worked hard the last couple of days to get that run in. We’ve been incapable of doing that here of late.”
Starting pitcher Sean Kane spotted the Dukes four runs in the first inning but had some bad breaks. On the first play of the game, a ground ball took a fortuitous hop, hitting shortstop Dan Melvin in the chest. Melvin recovered but not in time to throw out the runner.
Three batters later, the bases were loaded thanks to a groundout that advanced the runner, a walk and a hit batter. Kane’s first pitch to James Madison’s Davis Stoneburner was driven into right field for a sacrifice fly. However, Mehl’s throw home bounced away from catcher Bobby Ryan, allowing another runner to score. Kane, backing the play up, attempted to throw the runner out at home but threw the ball away for the second error of the at-bat.
Two base hits later, the score was 4-0 before the Terps even had a chance to swing the bats.
The Terps committed four errors in the night, but none directly led to runs. All six of the Dukes’ runs were earned. All seven of the Terps’ losses have come when the team has committed at least two errors.
“It’s not the physical talent on the field,” Mehl said. “We’re very physically capable of doing everything we set out to do but once again, it’s a lack of focus.”
Kane was lifted after four innings in favor of senior Josh Andrews. Andrews kept the team in the game, pitching three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief, giving up only one walk and one hit.
The Terps’ final chance to tie the game came in the eighth inning. Down 6-4, second baseman Matt Maropis hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on designated hitter Chad Durakis’ groundout. Centerfielder Brian Jarosinski was unable to get the run home as he popped up. After Ryan walked, first baseman Ellliot Singletary grounded out to end the threat.
The Terps will renew ACC play this weekend against the Cavaliers at Virginia.
TERP NOTES: Singletary hit his second leadoff home run in five games… First baseman Jordan Wilson missed his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury. He is listed as day to day.
