2008 Woodie Awards
Terps knock off Eagles
Aaron Kraut
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Sports
In its final tune-up before conference play begins, the Terrapin baseball team handled visiting Coppin State 12-2 yesterday, improving its record to 5-4 in time for one of its toughest road trips of the season.
"It's here real soon," coach Terry Rupp said regarding this weekend's ACC opener at No. 20 Florida State. "I think a lot of things came to light today, and we'll be ready to go in there and battle very hard."
"It's great just to get a win so we can go down to Florida State with some confidence," senior catcher Chad Durakis said. "It feels better to win than to lose, and hopefully we take the momentum we picked up today with us down there."
Despite five Terp runs in the first two innings thanks to three Eagle errors, Coppin State had an opportunity to get back in the game in the top of the fourth inning.
Down 5-2 with the bases loaded and two outs, Eagle left fielder Jerry Matos struck out looking on a fastball from freshman Adam Kolarek.
After the Terps stretched their lead to 7-2 and locked up the game in the fifth inning, Rupp started to clear his bench.
"Today was good because I got a chance to look at a lot of infield combinations, since that's what we've been trying to settle," said Rupp. "Everybody wants to play since they worked very hard in the offseason, and we could get a lot of guys in the game today."
Rupp used eight pitchers in the game, allowing each an inning of work with the exception of freshman Matt Quinn, who pitched both the fifth and sixth innings.
The staff combined for 15 strikeouts and, after the brief Eagle rally in the fourth, shut Coppin State down. Senior Mike Sufczynski started the first inning and picked up the win to even his record at 1-1.
Durakis made his first start of the season at first base while junior Jensen Pupa, who had been playing first base when not pitching, started at second base.
"Any time a player can play a lot of different positions, it gives coach Rupp a few more options," said Durakis. "I'm fine playing wherever Coach wants me to play. Pupa is a pretty good athlete and looks good over there at second; we have confidence in him."
Defensive errors plagued winless Coppin State all game long. They ended up with seven total on the day. There were dropped fly balls, poor pickoff throws and a botched double play on an easy grounder to second.
In the top of the seventh, Coppin State's third-base coach got into the act, letting a foul grounder trickle through his legs.
Despite the convincing win, the Terps know their trip to Tallahassee this weekend won't be as easy.
"It was a nice little warm-up, but now is when it really starts," sophomore right fielder A.J. Casario said. "We gotta step up, and hopefully the guys that are hot stay hot and guys that are struggling get it together."
akrautdbk@gmail.com
"It's here real soon," coach Terry Rupp said regarding this weekend's ACC opener at No. 20 Florida State. "I think a lot of things came to light today, and we'll be ready to go in there and battle very hard."
"It's great just to get a win so we can go down to Florida State with some confidence," senior catcher Chad Durakis said. "It feels better to win than to lose, and hopefully we take the momentum we picked up today with us down there."
Despite five Terp runs in the first two innings thanks to three Eagle errors, Coppin State had an opportunity to get back in the game in the top of the fourth inning.
Down 5-2 with the bases loaded and two outs, Eagle left fielder Jerry Matos struck out looking on a fastball from freshman Adam Kolarek.
After the Terps stretched their lead to 7-2 and locked up the game in the fifth inning, Rupp started to clear his bench.
"Today was good because I got a chance to look at a lot of infield combinations, since that's what we've been trying to settle," said Rupp. "Everybody wants to play since they worked very hard in the offseason, and we could get a lot of guys in the game today."
Rupp used eight pitchers in the game, allowing each an inning of work with the exception of freshman Matt Quinn, who pitched both the fifth and sixth innings.
The staff combined for 15 strikeouts and, after the brief Eagle rally in the fourth, shut Coppin State down. Senior Mike Sufczynski started the first inning and picked up the win to even his record at 1-1.
Durakis made his first start of the season at first base while junior Jensen Pupa, who had been playing first base when not pitching, started at second base.
"Any time a player can play a lot of different positions, it gives coach Rupp a few more options," said Durakis. "I'm fine playing wherever Coach wants me to play. Pupa is a pretty good athlete and looks good over there at second; we have confidence in him."
Defensive errors plagued winless Coppin State all game long. They ended up with seven total on the day. There were dropped fly balls, poor pickoff throws and a botched double play on an easy grounder to second.
In the top of the seventh, Coppin State's third-base coach got into the act, letting a foul grounder trickle through his legs.
Despite the convincing win, the Terps know their trip to Tallahassee this weekend won't be as easy.
"It was a nice little warm-up, but now is when it really starts," sophomore right fielder A.J. Casario said. "We gotta step up, and hopefully the guys that are hot stay hot and guys that are struggling get it together."
akrautdbk@gmail.com
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