Game 1 pitching match-up: Mike Shawaryn (3-0, 1.80 era) vs. UNC-Wilmington's RHP Nick Monroe (1-0, 3.86 era)
Game 2 pitching match-up: Willie Rios (0-0, 0.00 era) vs. UNC-Wilmington's RHP Ryan Foster (1-0, 3.75 era)
Game One Recap
Stephen Linkous sliced an opposite-field double on the very first pitch in the Seahawk first. Zach Shields laid down a bunt that Shawaryn bobbled, putting runners on the corners. Shawaryn picked off Shields, but Linkous scored on a sac fly to deep center by Casey Golden.
Justin Morris got HBP with one out. Kevin Smith followed with a grounder through the hole at short. Then Lowe singled to right center to tie the score, with Smith motoring to third. However LaMonte Wade fanned and Nick Cieri grounded out to end the threat.
Jose Cuas led off the Terps' fourth with a single to left. Although Tim Lewis struck out, Jose Cuas was able to steal second; then third. After Kevin Martir grounded back to the pitcher, Anthony Papio laid down a perfect bunt for an RBI single: the Terps were on top 2-1.
Both teams hit back-to-back homers
Golden popped a mile-high infield fly that Morris wasn't able to corral. Hustling all the way, Golden made it to second on an infield double. Gavin Stupienski then unloaded a two-run home run to put the Seahawks on top. It got worse: Corey Dick followed that up with a solo shot to center, giving the Seahawks a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth Smith lined a double down the line. Lowe followed with an RBI double, going to third on a wild pitch. Wade made the Seahawks pay, as he hit a ground out to short that brought home Lowe, tying the score at 4-4.
But the Seahawks struck right back. Robbie Thornburn homered over the center-field fence to grab the lead for UNC-Wilmington. Zach Shields almost had UNC-Wilmington's fourth home run, instead settling for a double off the wall. After a strike out, Stupienski walked, which was Shawaryn's last hitter. Robert Galligan came in to face Dick, who had homered earlier off Shawaryn. Dick singled up the middle to give the Seahawks a two-run lead.
RHP Austin Magestro relieved Foster to start the sixth. Martir and Papio treated him rudely, hitting back-to-back home runs to tie the score. Morris worked a walk, and was sacrificed to second by Smith. LHP William Shepley relieved Magestro. Lowe scratched out an infield hit, with Morris staying at second. Wade popped out, but Nick Cieri drew a walk to load the bases. However Cuas struck out to end the Terps' rally.
Seahawks scratch out the winning runs
In the bottom of the sixth Connelly blooped a single to left. Thornburn singled and took second on the throw back to the infield. A ground out gave the Seahawks the lead at 7-6.
Dunlap led off the Seahawk eighth with a single. A bunt single by Connelly put runners on first and second with no outs. McDowell singled to put the Seahawks ahead by 8-6. Thornburn was intentionally walked. Tayler Stiles came in to put out the flames. He did just that, getting two ground balls, both of which resulted in the runner being thrown out at home. Ryan Selmer got Golden to ground out and the Seahawk lead stayed at two runs.
UNC-Wilmington's closer, Jordan Ramsey, took the mound to try to preserve the victory for the Seahawks. He did just that, retiring the side in order.
Robert Galligan took the loss to go 0-1.
Game Two Recap
Terps once again down early
Rios got two quick outs, then gave up an infield single and a walk. Corey Dick hit an RBI single to left center that put the Seahawks up 1-0. In the Seahawk third, Connelly hit a looping fly ball that popped out of Lewis' glove for a two-base error. Connelly moved to third on a long fly to Papio. A groundout put UNC-Wilmington up by two runs.
Wade started off the Terps' half of the fourth with a triple. He scored when the catcher's snap throw to get Wade leaning sailed over the third baseman's head. Two outs later Lewis walked, Martir was HBP. and Papio walked. However, Matt Oniffrey grounded out to the first baseman.
Maryland scores three runs with clutch two-out hits
Lowe hit a one-out double in the top of the fifth. Wade walked to put runners on first and second. Cieri hit a grounder to second that could have gone for an inning-ending double play. But the second baseman bobbled the ball, and only had a play at first. Cuas made the Seahawks pay by lining a two-run single. Then Lewis hit a ball over the center fielder's head that went for an RBI double: Maryland led 4-2. Foster was relieved by RHP Justin Crump. He got Martir to fly out to center.
Both teams' errors allow big innings
Linkous had a single to start the Seahawk's fifth. Connelly hit a grounder that Lowe misplayed, putting two runners aboard with no outs. A passed ball let both runners move up. Stupienski hit a slow chopper for that went for an infield hit. That cut the Terps' lead to one run. Then Dick blasted a double that drove in two more, and UNC-Wilmington was back on top. Ryan Selmer relieved Rios. Dunlap lined into an inning-ending double play.
Papio led off the Terrapin sixth by walking, then advancing on a wild pitch. Justin Morris (who had come in to play for Oniffrey) hit a grounder that the Seahawk's second baseman booted. LHP Whitman Barnes relieved Crump. Smith tried a safety squeeze, which Barnes fielded and threw wildly to first. Both Papio and Morris came around to score; Smith made it all the way around to third. Lowe hit a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5 Terps.
The Seahawks got a strange run in the seventh inning. Linkous led off with a walk. Zach Morris came in to pitch for Maryland. After Linkous stole second, Connelly got an infield hit. Linkous came home when Cieri's throw back to the mound eluded Morris. That cut the Terps' lead to a single run.
Things got even stranger in the bottom of the eighth. Dunlap led off with a single to center. Austin bunted, but Cuas' throw to second skipped up for an error, Maryland's fifth of the game. Thornburn bunted and somehow no one covered the sacrifice, so the bases were loaded with no outs. Jared Price came on to pitch for Maryland. A wild pitch tied up the score. Zach Shield hit a sac fly that gave the Seahawks the lead 8-7. Price was relieved by Alex Robinson. Connelly hit a grounder to third, but Cuas' throw went awry and the Terps were now down by three runs. A wild pitch allowed Connelly to score. Stupienski struck out, but at the end of eight, the Terps trailed 11-7.
The Terps didn't score in the ninth, and lost 11-7.
Zach Morris was saddled with the loss to go 0-1, and the two losses today bring the Terps' record to 7-4.