COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland baseball will face Michigan State for the first time in program history when the fourth-seeded Terps and fifth-seeded Spartans open up the Big Ten Tournament Wednesday night at Target Field.
Leading it off
Michigan State
Probable Starters: RHP Mike Shawaryn (11-2, 1.68 ERA) vs. LHP Cam Vieaux (4-6, 3.64 ERA)
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: Target Field
Live Streaming: BTN
Live Audio: Maryland Baseball Network
Live Stats: bigten.org
Twitter: @TerpsBaseball
• Wednesday's contest will mark the Terps' first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament. Maryland has won four conference titles in its history; three ACC titles (1965, '70', '71) and one Southern Conference championship (1936).
• Sophomore right-handed pitcher Mike Shawaryn has put together one of the finest seasons for a hurler in school history. Shawaryn finished the regular season with a Big Ten best 11-2 record, a 1.68 ERA and a conference-high 115 strikeouts. Shawaryn's 11 wins ties his own school record set last season.
• Shawaryn has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week four times and was recentely named a Dick Hower Award semifinalist. He was an unanimous selection for the All-Big Ten First Team. Shawaryn recently accepted an invitation to join the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. He is just the second Terrapin to ever play for the United States.
• Sophomore second baseman Brandon Lowe ranks among the best hitters in the Big Ten. A first team All-Big Ten selection, Lowe leads the conference in total bases (129), and is third in RBIs (51), slugging percentage (.589) and on-base percentage (.451).
• Junior catcher Kevin Martir a Johnny Bench Award semifinalist, is in the top-15 in the conference in both slugging (.502) and OBP (.426). Martir's 41 RBIs ranked tenth in the Big Ten and he smacked seven home runs, good enough for ninth in the conference. He was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team.
• Junior Jose Cuas earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Cuas' 11 home runs and 51 RBIs both rank third in the Big Ten. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native is fifth in the conference in runs scored (49) and served as a steady presence on the hot corner throughout the year.
• Kevin Mooney notched his fifth save of the season against Delaware to move his all-time Maryland career saves record to 27. The record was previously held by Brett Cecil. Mooney broke the record with a save against Minnesota on March 21. He also has earned three wins this season.
