:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29715867/team_practicing_pregame_3.0.jpg)
After yesterday's 15 - 3 drubbing it would be interesting to see how the Terps bounced back. They did in a big way, thanks to a brilliant effort by Mike Shawaryn and a two-run blast from Kyle Convissar.
This game promised another intriguing pitcher match-up: Maryland's impressive freshman Mike Shawaryn (3 - 0, 0.54 era) vs. the tough southpaw Brandon Leibrandt (2 - 0, 2.04 era). And yes, Leibrandt is the son of former MLB pitcher Charlie Leibrandt.
Terps strike first
Charlie White got us going with a bunt that Leibrandt fielded and threw away into right field. FSU's right fielder Brett Knief had trouble picking up the ball which allowed White to motor all the way to third. Brandon Lowe brought White home with a sharp grounder to second. In the bottom of the inning Shawaryn set down the Seminoles on two strike outs and the Terps led 1 - 0 after one inning.
The Terps' bats had trouble with Leibrandt in the second and third as the lefty consistently painted the corners. But Shawaryn was just as impressive, giving up only a perfectly laid down bunt hit.
Josh Delph led off the Seminoles' bottom of the fourth with a blooper that fell between Lowe and Papio. After a pop-out Stewart hit a grounder just off of Lowe's glove and the Seminoles had men on first and second. Shawaryn didn't let that faze him as he got the next two hitters to foul out and ground out, respectively.
Maryland had failed to score since the opening inning and clung onto a 1 - 0 lead after 4 1/2. This was a true test of Shawaryn's grit as he had no room for error. No problem as Shawaryn set down the side in order on just four pitches.
Which team would blink?
In the sixth inning it would be the Seminoles who blinked. With one out Lowe sliced a single to left. One out later Convissar blasted a two-run homer to left, giving Maryland a 3 - 0 lead. The Seminoles didn't score in their half of the sixth; Shawaryn had held #2 FSU scoreless through six innings.
Leibrandt stayed in to pitch the seventh. He struck out Papio and Schmit, and then got Cuas to pop up to second. Mike Shawaryn was also still on the mound in the seventh, making this game his longest outing of the season. Knief walked on four pitches. Brizuela flied out to right, but then Cuas couldn't come up with Nogowski's chopper and the tying run came to the plate. Sansone hit a grounder through the hole that Schmit stopped which prevented a run. Things were tense for about 30 seconds as Shawaryn got DeLuzio to hit a sharp grounder to third. Cuas went home and Martir gunned down the runner for a double play.
Maryland pads their lead via doubles by Montville and Ward
Montville hit a double down the third base line for a lead-off double. White sacrificed Montville to third and Leibrandt was removed for another left-hander, Dylan Silva. Lowe walked and went to second on a wild pitch (Montville had to hold at third). Wade smacked an opposite field double and the Terps were up 5 - 0. Dylan Voyles, a 6' 7'' freshman right-hander replaced the ineffective Silva. He hit Convissar (Kyle is the active ACC player in terms of HBP), then hit Martir. But he induced Papio to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Pinch-hitter Curtis Smit began the Seminole half of the eight with a double in the gap. Delph walked, putting two runners aboard. Gonzales popped out to Wade. That was Shawaryn's last hitter. He left receiving a nice round of applause from the FSU crowd. In came Alex Robinson to face the powerful D J Stewart. A passed ball let the runner from second go to third. Robinson came back from a 3 - 0 pitch to fan Stewart. But the pesky Knief fought off a pitch to loop a double that scored a run. Brizuela popped out to end the inning.
For the day Shawaryn went 7 1/3rd, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, 1 run, and 5 strike outs. It was his first run allowed in over 18 consecutive innings.
Mooney strikes out the side to clinch the victory
After the Terps went down in order in the ninth, in came in Kevin Mooney to try to nail down the victory. Nogowski struck out on a breaking ball. Mooney blew a fastball past Sansone and FSU was down to their last out. Deluzio went chasing for the third strike and Maryland had knocked off FSU 5 - 1. Mike Shawaryn got the victory to win his fourth straight start as a collegiate pitcher.