MINNEAPOLIS – Sophomore RHP Mike Shawaryn gave up just one run and struck out nine over seven innings as the fourth-seeded Maryland baseball team defeated fifth seeded Michigan State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament at Target Field Wednesday night.
The Terrapins (37-20) used an RBI single from freshman Kevin Smith in the fifth to take the lead for good. With the win, Shawaryn broke the all-time Maryland single season record for victories with 12.
“We're pretty happy with the outcome,” head coach John Szefc said. “It's a good way for us to start this tournament. You have success in tournaments like this with good starting pitching and good defense. I thought we had really good at-bats tonight.”
Shawaryn started out his night in style in the first, striking out the side. The Carneys Point, N.J., native found trouble in the third when Mark Weist doubled in Cam Gibson to make it 1-0 Spartants after three.
Maryland tied the game in the fourth. Smith reached on an error before sophomore Brandon Lowe singled through the right side to move him to third. After junior Kevin Martir struck out, junior Jose Cuas grounded out to third to plate Smith and tie the game.
Smith gave Maryland the lead in the fifth. Sophomore Nick Cieri singled to right and moved to second on a Kevin Biondic single. Smith then poked a two-out single through the middle to score Cieri and give the Terps a lead they would not relinquish.
Shawaryn piled up the strikeouts throughout the night and finished with nine. Junior Kevin Mooney entered in the eighth and pitched two scoreless frames to pick up his sixth save of the season. Lowe finished with two hits on the night.
Maryland returns to action tomorrow against top-seed Illinois. First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on BTN.
-Terps-
