Virginia Clips Maryland, 9-5

Story Links

April 23, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Freshman left fielder David Stone drove in acareer-high four runs to lead the University of Virginia past theUniversity of Maryland 9-5 here Friday in Atlantic Coast Conference action.With the win, the Cavaliers snap a season-long nine-game losing streak andimprove to 16-29 on the season, 6-12 in ACC play. The Terrapins fall to17-19-1 and 5-10.

With the score tied 1-1 through three and a half innings, theCavaliers exploded for four runs on four hits and a Maryland error in thebottom of the fourth. Stone, who already had an RBI single on the day, hadthe big hit in the inning, a two-run single to center field. He finishedthe day 2-for-5 and also scored a run.

Maryland battled back, though, with two unearned runs on three hitsa couple of Wahoo miscues in the top of the fifth. However, a three-runseventh pushed the UVa lead to five runs as the Cavaliers led 8-3. The gamewas then delayed 46 minutes due to a rain and hail storm in the top of theeighth.

When play resumed, reliever Mark Hurrie got two quick outs to endthe inning before the Orange and Blue tacked on another run in the bottomof the inning on a throwing error by Terrapin pitcher Todd Ainsworth.Maryland plated two runs on two hits in the top of the ninth amidstreturning rain showers to cap the scoring.

Jon Metzger picked up his first career victory, going seven inningsand allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits withfour strike outs. The downfall for Metzger (1-0) was a season-high sevenwalks. It was the first decision of the season for the sophomore Southpawafter not figuring in the decision in his first six starts. Hurrie allowedtwo runs on two hits with a walk and a strike out over two innings.

Tom Curtiss (2-3) took the loss for Maryland. He allowed seven runson nine hits with four walks and six strike outs over six innings of work.Ainsworth was touched for two runs, one earned, on three hits with threewalks and two strike outs, pitching the final two innings for Maryland.

Jon Benick, Mark Rueffert, Hunter Wyant and Ryan Kalamaya backed upStone at the plate with two hits each. Benick also had two RBI, whileKalamaya and Rueffert added a double and a triple, respectively.

Chuck Easter was the only Terp with more than one hit, going2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The two teams will play the second game of their three-game serieshere Saturday at 2 p.m.

VIRGINIA 9, MARYLAND 5

UM (17-19-1, 5-10)	000 120 002 -  5   8  3UVA  (16-29, 6-12)	001 400 31x -  9  12  3WP - Metzger (1-0). LP - Curtiss (2-3). Sv - None.Curtiss, Ainsworth (7) and Barton; Metzger, Hurrie (8) and Rueffert. T -3:42 (46-minute rain delay). A - 182.