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The starting pitchers were Mike Shawaryn (5 - 1, 2.25 ERA) facing Wake Forest's LHP John McLeod (4 - 1, 1.91 ERA). I was curious to see how Shawaryn would respond after suffering his first defeat last week against Clemson. It was the only time I'd seen a team hit him hard, as Clemson scored five runs off nine hits in 4.1 innings.
Wake Forest goes long ball again
In the Terps' first Charlie White was HBP. An out later LaMonte Wade slapped a single to left, putting runners on the corner. McLeod promptly picked Wade off. That probably cost the Terps a run, as Convissar grounded out to the hole at short; very unlikely a double play could have been turned. In the top of the second Blake Schmit singled to left, but he also was picked off. The next two batters grounded out.
Shawaryn had trouble in the second inning. Conor Keniry hit a towering fly to right that LaMonte Wade leapt for at the wall, but just missed making a spectacular play on. The result was Keniry's first career home run.
Demon Deacons get to Shawaryn
In Wake Forest's third Grant Shambley hit a hot shot that Cuas knocked down. But Cuas' throw was off the mark for an error that allowed Shambley to make it to second. Charlie Morgan singled between first and second and runners were on the corners. Matt Conway popped up to third. Keniry, who had homered in his last at bat, hit a seeing-eye grounder for an infield single; Shambley scored, stretching Wake Forest's lead to two.
In the bottom of the fourth Ben Breazeale singled to right for the sixth Demon Deacons hit of the game. After a fly out, Breazeale went to second on a passed ball. Stephens belted one to the opposite field for a double and Wake Forest led 3 - 0. Shambley tripled, further increasing Wake Forest's lead. That finished Shawaryn's day. Tayler Stiles came in to pitch for the Terps. He got out of the inning with no further damage to Maryland.
Terrapin hitters continue to struggle
With McLeod seemingly in command the four run lead looked huge. It was important that Maryland score. It didn't happen. Although Cuas had a single and Michael Montville walked, the Terps couldn't put up a run. McLeod had held the Terps to three hits (all singles) through five innings. The Terps got a scratch infield single in their half of the sixth but nothing else.
Tayler Stiles held the Demon Deacons scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. After six the score remained 4 - 0. In the top of the seventh Cuas led off with a single back up the middle. He was erased as Mike Rescigno hit into a double play. Montville singled to right. White followed with drag bunt hit. Lowe blooped a single to left and the Terps were on the board. McLeod was relieved by LHP Max Tishman. Wade grounded out to first for the third out.
Wake Forest got the run back in the bottom of the seventh. Morgan doubled to start the inning. Conway hit a deep fly to right that allowed Morgan to move over to third. Keniry brought the run home with a sac fly.
RHP Parker Dunshee came on the mound to start the eighth. Convissar walked. Schmit singled to left, and both runners advanced as the left fielder misplayed the ball. Cieri smoked a shot right at the first baseman. Fortunately no Terrapin was doubled off. Cuas hit a grounder to third that scored Convissar. Anthony Papio pinch hit for Rescigno and struck out to end the rally.
The Demon Deacons' closer, Aaron Fossas, came in to try to seal the victory. Fossas got his seventh save last night but had to pitch two innings. That didn't seem to affect him, as he retired the side in order.
Mike Shawaryn took the loss to go to 5 - 2. John McLeod moved his record to 5 - 1, with Aaron Fossas getting his eighth save. Maryland fell to 18 - 10, 5 - 8 in the ACC. The Terps have now dropped four straight ACC games, scoring a total of eight runs in those games.