Maryland baseball: Terps outplay Irish, 6 - 2

The starting pitchers for today's game were Mike Shawaryn (7 - 3, 3.17 ERA) vs. LHP Michael Hearne (4 - 4, 2.34 ERA). It was a picture perfect day for baseball, something the Terps haven't experienced much this year. In attendance were Jake Layman and Evan Smotrycz, rapping with Pat Connaughton (maybe they can persuade him to transfer!).

Bull puts the Irish on top

As much as Maryland likes to play small ball, Notre Dame is even more of a team that scratches out runs. They were unsuccessful last night. So today they found a different way to score. In the top of the second Robert Youngdahl battled Shawaryn and was able to draw a walk. Forrest Johnson sacrificed Youngdahl to second. After a ground out Ryan Bull hit a shot over the right field fence. It was only the eighth home run of the year for Notre Dame.

Things were not going well for the Terps. Through three innings Maryland managed just a single base runner, a double by Brandon Lowe in the first. After that Hearne retired seven straight Terrapin batters. But the Terps' Shawaryn settled down after the second-inning home run, retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings.

Terps take the lead as Irish play shoddy defense

LaMonte Wade opened the Terps' fourth with a single to center. Lowe beat out an infield hit and the Terps had two runners aboard with no one out. Jose Cuas skied out to center. Blake Schmit hit a fly ball out to right field that proved too hard for Youngdahl to catch; it was ruled a double. Wade scored and runners were on second and third. Tim Lewis tried a safety squeeze that went right back to Hearne. Right as the pitcher threw to first base Lowe broke for home. He beat the throw home and the score was tied. Mike Rescigno hit a grounder to third that the ND fielder scooped up but threw way wide of first. Schmitt scored giving the Terps a 3 - 2 lead.

Lowe continues to swing a hot bat

Shawaryn retired the side 1-2-3 in the fifth. In the Terps' half of the inning Charlie White lined a single to right. He went to second on an excuse-me grounder by Wade. Lowe crushed a pitch down the right field line for his second double of the game: the Terps led 4 - 2.

Walks, squawks, and automobiles

Other than a two-out double by Cavan Biggio in the sixth, Shawaryn once again cruised. (It should be noted that Wade made a great diving leap to snag a potential hit from the Irish.) In the top of the seventh Forrest Johnson blooped a one-out single just over Lowe's outstretched arm. Ryan Lidge hit a grounder down the third base line that Cuas couldn't quite backhand for an error. After Bull popped up, pinch hitter Kyle Richardson walked on a full count to load the bases. Ben Brewster came in to pitch and faced pinch hitter Ricky Sanchez. On a 1 - 2 pitch Brewster threw a pitch that just got away from Martir. The runners started to go but held up. Martir gunned down to second and almost nipped the runner. In the melee the runner on third broke for the plate and Schmitt threw home. Martir blocked the plate and tagged Johnson for the final out. But Johnson and Martir had words, emptying both bases. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and a fight didn't ensue.

In the bottom of the inning White hit a single, then went to second on a sacrifice by Wade. Lowe was intentionally walked (his fourth time on base today). But White and Lowe executed a double steal. After Cuas flew out to shallow left, Schmitt was intentionally walked. Lewis made Notre Dame pay the price as he singled in two runs. After seven innings the Terps were in front 6 - 2.

Brewster shut down the Irish in eighth and ninth innings to gain his second save of the season. Mike Shawaryn moved to 8 - 3 on the year. With his eighth victory Shawaryn ties a single season record for most victories by a Maryland pitcher.

Maryland takes the series and looks to sweep Notre Dame tomorrow. The Terrapins improve to 27 - 19 overall, 11 - 14 in the ACC.