Maryland baseball beats Princeton, 2-0, to complete series sweep

Freshman Tyler Blohm pitched the best start of his young career to lead Maryland baseball to a 2-0 win and series sweep over Princeton.

The freshman left-hander was in complete control all game long. Blohm finished the game pitching seven scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing only two walks. Blohm didn’t allow his first hit until the fourth inning and only gave up two while he was on the mound. Princeton’s offense really stood no chance with the freshman on his game.

Meanwhile, the Terps (12-6) lineup did just enough to secure the victory. A home run and a score on an errant throw was all Maryland needed to win the low-scoring affair.

Madison Nickens got the Terps on the board early in the bottom of the second after he got a hold of a pitch and scorched it over the right field wall for a solo home run. It was a team-leading third homer of the season for the senior left fielder.

Princeton (2-9) made its first threat of the game in the top of the fourth, but it was the Terps defense that rose to the challenge in the inning. Shortstop Kevin Smith started the inning by making an outstanding leaping catch to rob the Tigers of a definite base hit. Then after a walk, a stolen base and a groundout, Princeton needed a hit to knot up the ballgame. Left fielder Paul Tupper shot a ball into the right-center field gap that was destined to score tie the game. But right fielder Marty Costes came out of nowhere, fully extending and making a diving grab to end the threat. It was just one of many outstanding plays that the Maryland defense made over the weekend.

The Terps built on that momentum in the bottom of the fourth when Brandon Gum ripped a double to lead off the inning. Not known as a speedster, Gum later took advantage of an unsuspecting defense to score from second on a steal and and a wild throw from catcher Alex Dickinson that made its way into the outfield.

Blohm eventually gave way to the bullpen in the eighth inning. Jared Price struck out two during his inning of work, but the unit ran into some trouble in the top of the ninth.

Ryan Selmer exited for Andrew Miller after allowing a leadoff double to start the inning. Miller rose to the challenge and would keep the Tigers off the board after he got a fly ball and a double play for the lefty’s third save of the season.

The win locked down what the Terps’ third weekend series sweep this year. Maryland will will try to extend its win streak to four games in a two-game midweek series against UNC Wilmington starting on Tuesday.