If the inclement weather that caused the Terrapins baseball team’s matchup with Western Carolina to be postponed from 1 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday had a negative effect on the team, it didn’t show as the Terps dispatched the Catamounts, 3-0, in the Keith LeClair Classic.
Starting pitcher Brady Kirkpatrick keyed the win, allowing only four hits and two walks over 7.1 scoreless innings. The right handed sophomore struck out five before handing the game over to reliever Jimmy Reed, who pitched the final 1.2 innings and struck out one to earn the save.
Like in last weekend’s series at No. 19 UCLA, the Terps were helped by the defensive issues of their opponent. Western Carolina had three errors, leading to two unearned runs in the second inning to spot the Terps an early lead.
Aside from the second inning, the Terps bats were stymied by Western Carolina starter Jordan Smith, who allowed three hits and three walks while striking out three over seven innings. Smith didn’t allow an earned run.
The Terps added insurance in the ninth when second baseman Kyle Convissar scored on a wild pitch.
The Terps’ six hits came from six different players, and the lone Terp to record an RBI was third baseman K.J. Hockaday.
The win bumps the Terps’ record to 3-1 on the year. It was Western Carolina’s first loss of 2011. Tonight, the Terps take on Purdue at 7:30 p.m. before finishing the Keith LeClair Classic with host East Carolina tomorrow at 2 p.m.