COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Sophomore right handed pitcher Mike Shawaryn threw eight scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 13 to lead the No. 22 Maryland baseball team past Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, in front of 1,370 spectators at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Friday night.
The Terrapins (26-10, 8-4) plated their only two runs of the game in the second. With the win, Shawaryn tied John Rayne (1989-92) for the Maryland all-time career wins record.
“He [Shawaryn] keeps getting better, but you can't put a price on his make-up,” head coach John Szefc said. “He's an absolute monster when he gets out there. He can concentrate and hunt hitters on a whole different level. I don't know where that's going, but that's going somewhere special.”
After Shawaryn struck out three of the first six batters he faced to start the game, the Terps nabbed their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the second. Junior Jose Cuas was hit by a pitch before Anthony Papio reached on a fielder's choice. An error on the throw from the second baseman put runners on second and third.
Freshman Jamal Wade came through with an RBI groundout that plated Cuas before fellow freshman Kengo Kawahara grounded out to third to score Papio.
That's all the help Shawaryn would need. The sophomore faced the minimum amount of hitters in four innings and gave up just four hits. The Carneys Point, N.J., native did not walk a batter and lowered his ERA to 1.67.
In the ninth, junior Kevin Mooney walked two batters before junior Alex Robinson drew a couple of groundouts, one that plated a run. Robinson then struck out Scott Hurst swinging to end the game. He has now not allowed an earned run in 16.0 innings pitched this season.
With the victory, Shawaryn improved to a nation-best 9-0. His 20 career wins are the most for any sophomore in the country.
Maryland returns to action in game two of the series Saturday. First pitch from Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
-Terps-
