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The Terps traveled to Evanston, IL to play their last regular season series of 2015. Northwestern is 16-35 overall and 6-15 in B1G play, in other words, a team that the Terps surpass in every which way. Maryland came into this series needing a sweep to solidify their chances at an NCAA bid. With Mike Shawaryn (11-1, 1.71 era) facing RHP Brandon Magallones (3-5, 6.21 era), the odds were very good of a Terrapin victory.
But the game isn't played on paper, and the unimaginable happened: Maryland lost a pitcher's duel. In fact, the Terps never even managed to put a runner in scoring position.
Terps stymied by Magallones
The game began strangely, and continued thusly. Through the first five innings the Terps had managed only an infield single by Jose Cuas. In fact, the Terps hadn't hit a ball out of the infield. Fortunately, Shawaryn was keeping the Wildcats caged: the game was scoreless after four innings. But, the Wildcats drew first blood in their half of the fifth. Shawaryn hit a batter and walked another. With two outs, Jack Mitchell hit an RBI double. However, the runner on first was gunned down at the plate trying to score the second Wildcat run.
The frustration continues
Both sides went down in order in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning Kevin Smith lined a single to center. The next three Terps were retired, and the frustration continued. In the bottom of the inning, Cody Stevens drew a lead-off walk, and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. A groundout by Connor Lind sent Stevens to third. Scott Heelan walked, which brought Rob Galligan into the game for Maryland. (Shawaryn's line: 6.2 ip, 4h, 1r, 3bb, 5 so. ) He got Zach Jones to fly out to left.
In the top of the eighth, all three Maryland batters struck out looking. Things were looking dire.
Ryan Selmer pitched the eighth for Maryland, and only allowed an infield single.
The Terps were down to their last three outs. Kengo Kawahara grounded out to short. LaMonte Wade grounded sharply to first. Smith lined out to the shortstop. Just like that, the game was over, with the Terrapins losing 1-0.
Mike Shawaryn took the loss to go 11-2 on the year. The Terps fell to 35-19 overall, 13-9 in the B1G. With the loss, the Terps might find themselves on the NCAA tournament bubble.