2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball, 1-3, looking for wins this weekend
Aaron Kraut
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Sports
With a 1-3 record and a week until its ACC opener at Florida State, the Terrapin baseball team knows it needs some wins during this weekend's four-game set against Hofstra.
"We need wins and we need them now," junior infielder Mike Murphy said. "This week is very important and we need to take as many games as we can. We haven't been outplayed by anybody; we've beat ourselves so far."
Tuesday's 11-6 loss to Towson doused any good feelings the Terps had after holding their own against No. 30 Coastal Carolina last weekend.
Starting pitcher Scott Swinson admits a greater sense of urgency for this weekend's series, with ACC powerhouse Florida State coming up next weekend.
"This one is just as important as any other series we're gonna play this year," said Swinson. "We've yet to get ourselves playing as we should, and we need that reassurance of the team that we know we actually are."
Today's game will be the season-opener for the Pride, who had last weekend's scheduled series against Coppin State postponed due to weather.
"They're a real pesky team - there's gonna be a lot of bunting and hit-and-runs," said coach Terry Rupp. "We have to take care of the baseball in the infield and I think we'll be fine."
Hofstra features third baseman Matt Prokopowicz, who last season collected 52 RBIs and finished 10th in the nation with a .416 batting average on his way to being named a 2007 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
Senior catcher Chad Durakis was teammates and good friends with Prokopowicz and Pride outfielder Nick Panzarella in summer ball.
"There's been a little bit of trash talk going on, as you can imagine," said Durakis. "I look forward to seeing them and hopefully beating them."
The Terps will send Swinson to the mound today, followed by sophomore Ian Schwalenberg and senior Kevin Biringer in tomorrow's doubleheader. Junior Jensen Pupa will finish out the series Sunday.
The Pride lost its top-two starting pitchers from last season to graduation, Charlie Frago and Will DeVito, and were predicted to finish last in the Colonial Athletic Association in the conference's preseason coaches poll.
But if there's one thing the Terps learned from Tuesday's loss, it's not to underestimate any team. Towson was picked to finish 10th, just one spot higher than Hofstra, in the same poll.
"Towson was a wake-up call," said Murphy. "It let us know that we can't take any plays off, that we have to play hard every day and every out."
akrautdbk@gmail.com
"We need wins and we need them now," junior infielder Mike Murphy said. "This week is very important and we need to take as many games as we can. We haven't been outplayed by anybody; we've beat ourselves so far."
Tuesday's 11-6 loss to Towson doused any good feelings the Terps had after holding their own against No. 30 Coastal Carolina last weekend.
Starting pitcher Scott Swinson admits a greater sense of urgency for this weekend's series, with ACC powerhouse Florida State coming up next weekend.
"This one is just as important as any other series we're gonna play this year," said Swinson. "We've yet to get ourselves playing as we should, and we need that reassurance of the team that we know we actually are."
Today's game will be the season-opener for the Pride, who had last weekend's scheduled series against Coppin State postponed due to weather.
"They're a real pesky team - there's gonna be a lot of bunting and hit-and-runs," said coach Terry Rupp. "We have to take care of the baseball in the infield and I think we'll be fine."
Hofstra features third baseman Matt Prokopowicz, who last season collected 52 RBIs and finished 10th in the nation with a .416 batting average on his way to being named a 2007 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
Senior catcher Chad Durakis was teammates and good friends with Prokopowicz and Pride outfielder Nick Panzarella in summer ball.
"There's been a little bit of trash talk going on, as you can imagine," said Durakis. "I look forward to seeing them and hopefully beating them."
The Terps will send Swinson to the mound today, followed by sophomore Ian Schwalenberg and senior Kevin Biringer in tomorrow's doubleheader. Junior Jensen Pupa will finish out the series Sunday.
The Pride lost its top-two starting pitchers from last season to graduation, Charlie Frago and Will DeVito, and were predicted to finish last in the Colonial Athletic Association in the conference's preseason coaches poll.
But if there's one thing the Terps learned from Tuesday's loss, it's not to underestimate any team. Towson was picked to finish 10th, just one spot higher than Hofstra, in the same poll.
"Towson was a wake-up call," said Murphy. "It let us know that we can't take any plays off, that we have to play hard every day and every out."
akrautdbk@gmail.com
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