Terps Drop #1 UCLA, Move to 2-0 in Regional

Saturday, May 30

Los Angeles, Calif. (Jackie Robinson Stadium)

11:00 PM

Maryland

UCLA

5/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Maryland Athletics

LOS ANGELES – Junior Robert Galligan threw 4 and 1/3 innings of shutout relief and junior outfielder LaMonte Wade was key in the field and at the plate as the third-seeded Maryland baseball team toppled top-seeded UCLA, 4-1, at Jackie Robinson Stadium Saturday night.

The Terrapins (41-21) have now won five straight games in regional play dating back to last season. Junior Kevin Mooney picked up his tenth save of the season and his ninth career postseason save.

“I just think we prepare all year for postseason, from the way we do our scouting reports to the way we practice,” associate head coach Jim Belanger said. “Everything we do is to prepare for postseason, and once we get to the postseason nothing changes. Every day we prepare, from the time they show up on campus for practice, we're preparing to have success in the postseason.”

Maryland gave up its only run in the first inning. The Bruins loaded the bases against freshman starter Brian Shaffer and earned their run on a sac fly to take a 1-0 lead.

Wade's defense showed up in a big spot for the second consecutive game in the second. Christoph Bono slapped a double before Brett Stephens hit a ball on the ground to Wade in center. The junior reared back and threw a perfect strike to Kevin Martir, who applied the tag and blocked Bono for the final out of the inning.

The Terps struck on the offensive side in the following half inning. Martir and sophomore Nick Cieri singled before Tim Lewis put a flair out to left that dropped inside the foul line for a bases-clearing two-out-triple.

Maryland added its next two runs in the following inning. Wade led off the inning with solo shot to right field, his third home run of the season. After doubling to right, freshman Kevin Smith scored on a Martir groundout.

After the scoring was completed in the third, the bullpen for Maryland took over. First it was senior Bobby Ruse that went for 1 and 2/3 or scoreless ball. Then came the lefty Galligan who at one point retired 11 straight UCLA hitters.

The bullpen combined to give up just two hits. Mooney completed that effort with a lights out ninth that included two strikeouts. The junior now has saved Maryland's last five wins.

The Terrapins have now broken the Maryland all-time single season record for wins that was set last season.

Maryland will face the winner of Sunday's early game between UCLA and Bakersfield at 11 p.m. ET.