:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49721225/DSC_8644jpg07.0.0.jpg)
After losing to Michigan State in Friday morning's game, the Terrapins suddenly found themselves one loss away from being eliminated in the B1G baseball tournament. Their foe in Friday night's game was Indiana, a team the Terps beat on Wednesday 5-3.
The Terps took care of Indiana 3-0 on Friday, behind a brilliant two-hit shutout thrown by Brian Shaffer. Marty Costes continued to hurt the Hoosiers, drilling a two-run home run in the first inning. The Terps would manage to get an unearned run in the seventh, to give them a 3-0 cushion that they wouldn't relinquish.
With the win, Maryland eliminated Indiana from the tournament, and will face Iowa on Saturday morning. Iowa is currently 2-0 in the tournament.
Costes hurts Hoosiers
The Terps scored twice in the top of the first. Anthony Papio singled to lead things off. Then Marty Costes continued to vex Indiana by jumping on a pitch and putting it in the stands for a two-run homer. And that’s where things stood for the next six innings. Brian Shaffer was baffling the Hoosier hitters, allowing just a second inning single to Luke Miller, who was subsequently erased on a double play grounder. Other than a hit batsman, Indiana had no other baserunners.
The Terps had their opportunities to add to their lead but came up empty, stranding six runners through the first six innings. So even though Shaffer was dialed in, the Maryland lead was very tenuous.
Lefty B. J. Sabol took over for Indiana in the seventh. With one out Papio legged out an infield hit, his third single of the game. When Sabol fell behind 2-0 on Costes, Indiana brought in RHP Thomas Belcher. Costes eventually walked. Nick Dunn hit a hard grounder up the middle that the shortstop gloved and got the force play at second, but Dunn beast out the throw to first to keep the inning alive. That paid dividends as Nick Cieri lined a shot that went to the shortstop’s legs to score Papio: Maryland led 3-0.
Shaffer in full control
Indiana finally got another baserunner when Logan Sowers stroked a one-out single through the box in the bottom of the seventh. But that’s all the Hoosiers could muster as the next two batters grounded out. Shaffer retired the side in order in the eighth, giving no indication that he was tiring.
The Terps went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth. So Maryland took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Earlier Friday Ohio State was up 4-0 going into the bottom of the ninth against Iowa. The Hawkeyes pounded out six hit and four runs, tying the game. Iowa eventually won that game with a run in the tenth inning. Would Maryland suffer the same fate as Ohio State?
Not a chance. Shaffer retired all three hitters and completed his complete game shutout. His final line: 0 runs, two hits, no walks and 102 pitches in nine innings pitched. Shaffer’s record improved to 8-3 on the year.
With the split of two games today, Maryland stands at 30-26, making it the fifth straight year that Maryland has won at least 30 games, More importantly, the Terps survive to play Iowa Saturday at 10 a.m. EST.