Maryland baseball thumps Dayton, 11-2, to finish perfect weekend

In Sunday’s finale of Maryland baseball’s participation in the USA Baseball’s Irish Classic, Maryland defeated Dayton 11-2 to take all three games this weekend.

The Terps pounded out a season high 15 hits, including four by Nick Dunn and three by Kevin Smith. Maryland stole six bases, tagged up on fly balls, and constantly tested the arms of Dayton’s catchers and outfielders.

It was the second straight game that Smith had multiple hits, and he stung the ball today.

Tyler Blohm went five innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. The southpaw fanned six and gave way to Jared Price in the sixth inning. Price threw two scoreless innings, and Tayler Stiles and Mike Rescigno pitched an inning each. In total, Dayton managed just five hits.

Maryland opened with a three-spot in the first inning. Zach Jancarski singled, and Nick Dunn slapped a ball through the left side on a hit and run. With two outs, Maryland strung together three straight singles by Madison Nickens, Kevin Biondic, and Kevin Smith to grab a 3-0 lead.

Dayton scored an unearned run in the second. A walk and stolen base put a runner on second. Danny Maynard’s throw back to the mound sailed over Tyler Blohm’s head and went into center field. The runner came all the way around to score.

Maryland got the run back in the fourth. AJ Lee walked, stole second, and scored on a single by Dunn.

The Terps broke the game open with four runs in the fifth. Nickens laid down a great bunt for a lead off single. He stole second and third base. After Biondic walked, Smith belted a double in the right center field gap to plate both runners. Lee singled in Smith, and came home himself on a double deep down the right field line by Dunn.

The Terps scored twice more in the seventh and added a run a run in the ninth to finish off the game.

Maryland now has a three-game winning streak to sit at 4-5 overall. Blohm notched his second win of the season.