ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Maryland head coach John Szefc picked up his 300th career victory as the No. 11 Maryland baseball team split a doubleheader against Michigan at the Wilpon Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Terrapins (18-6, 4-1 Big Ten) received another outstanding start from right-hander Mike Shawaryn in game one. The sophomore went 7 1/3 and struck out seven to pick up the win.
Game One
Sophomore Brandon Lowe's two RBIs supplemented Shawaryn's strong outing in Maryland's 3-1 victory.
The Terps struck first in the second inning. Nick Cieri singled to right before Anthony Papio walked. Kevin Biondic then slapped a single through the middle to give Maryland a 1-0 lead.
An inning later, Lowe led off the third with a towering shot into right field for his fifth home run of the season.
In the seventh, Lowe came through again after the Terps loaded the bases. Tim Lewis walked before Biondic was hit by a pitch and Kengo Kawahara walked. Lowe plated Lewis with a sac fly to make the score 3-0.
Looking for his Big Ten leading sixth win of the season, Shawaryn retired eight straight between the second and fifth innings.
Shawaryn got into trouble in the eighth, but Tayler Stiles and Kevin Mooney combined to get the final two outs of the inning to preserve the Maryland lead.
Mooney shut the Wolverines down in order in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season. His school record now stands at 25.
Szefc's victory was his 88th at Maryland. He won 212 games as the skipper at Marist from 1996-2002.
Game Two
The Wolverines posted eight runs in the fifth and defeated the Terps by a final score of 10-1.
Maryland notched six hits, but were unable to rally against Michigan starter Ryan Nutof.
In the third inning, Jacob Cronenworth hit a two-run homer to put the Wolverines up 2-0.
Michigan expanded in the fifth. Cronenworth notched a bases clearing triple, while Jake Bivens, Eric Jacobson, Carmen Benedetti, Cody Bruder and Lugbauer all notched RBIs in the frame.
Freshman Jamal Wade hit his second home run of the season to score Maryland's lone run of the contest.
Maryland returns to action for the rubber game of the series tomorrow at noon. Freshman left-hander Willie Rios will be on the mound for the Terps.
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