The ending of tonight’s Terrapin baseball game against No. 19 Clemson can be summed up in one word: crazy.
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning with runners on first and second base and no outs, senior centerfielder Nick Jowers put a quality bunt down the third base line. Clemson pitcher D.J. Mitchell attempted to bare-hand the bunt, bobbled it and threw it to first base to try and get Jowers out.
But Mitchell’s throw went over the first baseman’s head and towards the wall down the right field line. The lead runner, A.J. Casario, scored easily making the game 2-1. Suddenly, the Clemson players going after the ball put their hands up, signaling the ball was out of play.
The umpires made no signal and the second runner, Gerry Spessard, along with Jowers came around to score giving the Terps a brief 3-2 win.
As Clemson players argued, the umpire went to check on the ball. Somehow, a Maryland player had left his warm-up jacket lying next to the wall in the exact spot where the overthrown ball arrived. Amazingly, the ball found it’s way inside the pocket of the jacket, meaning it was out of play and the Terps had only scored one run on the play.
With Spessard on third and Jowers on second, still with no outs, the Terps couldn’t get the ball out of the infield and lost 2-1.
More on this game and the entire weekend seires Monday, but needless to say this was the most frustrating and most unbelievable Terps loss this season.
akrautdbk@gmail.com