COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior right-hander Kevin Mooney notched a five-out save in game two to break Maryland's all-time saves record as the No. 14 Maryland baseball team took both games of a doubleheader against Minnesota at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Terrapins (16-4, 2-0) received a dose of power from junior third baseman Jose Cuas, who slammed three home runs between the two contests. Maryland's win in the first game of the day was its first-ever Big Ten victory.
Game One
Maryland did all of its damage in the third, scoring five runs on six hits, and eventually ended up with a 5-1 win. Sophomore right-hander Mike Shawaryn was once again spectacular from the start, giving up no earned runs in eight innings of work.
After an uneventful opening two frames, Maryland took control of the game in the fifth. Anthony Papio kicked off the threat with a double to left field. After a pair of Terp outs, Brandon Lowe singled home Papio to put Maryland on the board.
Kevin Smith followed with a single that send Lowe to third. Kevin Martir then doubled to center to plate both runners. Cuas then sent a bomb over the left field fence to plate Martir.
From there, Shawaryn went to work. The sophomore worked out of a couple minor threats throughout the contest, but was mostly dominate, adding six strikeouts to his Big Ten leading total of 41. He improved to 5-0 on the season.
Lowe notched his team-high ninth multi-hit game of the season when he tripled in the fifth.
Ryan Selmer pitched a spotless ninth to clinch Maryland first-ever Big Ten victory.
Game Two
The Terrapins fell behind 7-0, but rallied to defeat the Golden Gophers, 12-9, in game two. Tim Lewis notched four RBI's to propel Maryland's comeback.
Minnesota jumped out to a quick lead. After a couple of runs in the first, the Golden Gophers exploded for five in the second, highlighted by a Tony Skjefte two-run single.
Maryland began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the inning. Cuas led off the frame with a solo shot to left field. Kevin Biondic plated Nick Cieri with a groundout before Kengo Kawahara singled in Anthony Papio to make the score 7-3.
After a Minnesota run in the top of the third, the Terps went to work in the bottom half of the frame. Lewis drove in Cieri and Martir to make it 8-5.
The Terps took the lead in the fourth with five runs on six hits, all with two outs. Smith got the rally started when he doubled in Biondic. Martir then drove in Smith before Cuas walked and Cieri singled to load the bases.
Up stepped Lewis, who singled to center to plate two more Terrapin runs. Papio then singled to score Cieri to give Maryland a 10-7 lead.
Cuas hit another solo shot in the sixth to up the Maryland lead to 11-8. Kawahara singled in Papio in the seventh to finish off the Maryland scoring.
In the eighth, Mooney entered with one on and one down and induced two outs to end the inning. The final frame saw Mooney produce a double play that clinched the second save of his season and the 24th of his career, breaking current Major Leaguer Brett Cecil's school record.
Maryland returns to action Sunday at noon. Bobby Ruse will be on the mound for the Terrapins.
-Terps-
