COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The University of Delaware baseball team lost its 10th straight contest as the Blue Hens bowed to the Maryland Terrapins, 8-6, in the final game of a two-game midweek series at Shipley Field on Wednesday afternoon.

With the loss, the team has now fallen in 10-straight games for just the second time in the past 20 years. The 2004 squad also had a double-digit skid before riding a late-season surge to a second-place showing in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.

Bill Merkler (at right) roped a career-high four hits for the Hens, including his first home run of the season, but Delaware (3-11) could not capitalize on his performance as the team fell to 8-13-1 all-time against the Terrapins.

Against Maryland (7-7), the Hens fell behind early after starter Corey Crispell was touched up for six runs, including three earned, in his three innings of work. In the second, the Terrapins used a four-run frame to take an early lead in the game. Although Gerry Spessard, Nick Jowers, and Steve Braun all singled in the inning, Maryland capitalized on an error by Scott Shockley and a passed ball by Chris Nehl to keep the rally alive and post three unearned runs.

After Delaware scored a run in the top of the third on a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Cuneo, the Terrapins came back with two in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-1 lead.

Trailing by five, the Hens posted one of the large rallies that have become a staple of the 2008 team. In the top of the fourth, Delaware struck for four runs after Scott Shockley led off with a walk. Following back-to-back strikeouts, Adam Tsakonas stroked a run-scoring double to right field.

Then Alex Buchholz drove in Tsakonas with a single to first base before Merkler recorded the biggest hit of the inning, crushing a two-run bomb to centerfield that pulled the Hens within one at 6-5.

Following the rally, redshirt freshman Joe Tebaldi came out of the bullpen and locked down the Terrapin offense. After serving as a reserve catcher last season, the newly-converted pitcher fired three strong innings of relief for the Hens. During his outing, he struck out three and held Maryland hitless.

Still trailing by one entering the top of the seventh, the Blue Hen offense came alive and knotted up the game. After Chris Nehl and Shockley worked walks, freshman Pat Dameron roped a pinch-hit single to left center which brought in Nehl to tie the game at six.

The game was only tied for a moment, though, as reliever Alex Dalsey walked Spessard in the bottom of the inning before Will Greenberg took him deep with a two-run shot to right center that put the Terrapins back on top, 8-6.

Brad Taylor (1-1), who worked 2.2 innings of relief for Maryland, picked up the win, while Dalsey (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Delaware will return to action on Friday to begin a three-game conference series with Northeastern beginning at 2:30 p.m.

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