Alabama's Nick Eicholtz held Maryland baseball scoreless for six innings, and the Terps dropped the rubber game of their opening series 5-1 to the Crimson Tide.
After what was a pitcher's duel for the game's first 7.5 innings, Alabama tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to mount a clear advantage, and lefty Thomas Burrows closed it out with two scoreless innings for his second save of the season in front of his home crowd Sunday in Tuscaloosa.
Eicholtz used his sinker to induce Maryland into 10 ground-ball outs, and combined with Burrows and Matt Foster, did not allow an extra-base hit all day. All seven of Maryland's hits were singles, and the Terps were unable to string hits together, as they only advanced three runners into scoring position all day.
Brian Shaffer made his first start of the season for Maryland and allowed two runs in five innings of work. He struck out out two batters and walked two, and only allowed one extra-base hit.
The Tide were first on the scoreboard in the third inning on an RBI double by Chandler Avant. Cody Henry followed that up with a single to bring Avant home, and that was all the Tide would need. Maryland's only run of the day came in the seventh inning when Anthony Papio scored on an error by Eicholtz.
The Terps are now 1-2, and will next take on VCU on the road this Wednesday.