COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Down 4-2 heading to the ninth, the Maryland baseball team ripped off three runs to win in walk-off fashion, 5-4, and sweep the series against Ohio State Sunday afternoon at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
The Terrapins (18-15, 4-2 Big Ten) also received a solid performance from starter RHP Mike Shawaryn, who struck out ten over six and a third inning. Senior Anthony Papio tallied three RBIs on two hits, including a game tying two-run single in the ninth before freshman Dan Maynard's game winning single.
Shawaryn started well with two fairly routine innings to start before running into trouble in the third when Troy Montgomery and Nick Sergakis both notched RBI single to give Ohio State a 2-0.
Maryland answered back with a run in the fifth. After Kevin Smith walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Papio smacked a double off the wall in right field to bring the sophomore in. Andrew Bechtold singled Papio over to third, Justin Morris was unable to execute a squeeze and Papio was tagged out at home. Madison Nickens followed with a pop out to end the frame.
The Buckeyes plated a pair of runs in the seventh before Robert Galligan relieved Shawaryn and worked the Terps out of the jam. Smith then answered with a towering solo home run left field in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 4-2.
After Ryan Selmer worked a clean eighth, Ohio State put two on in the top of the ninth, but Mike Rescigno struck out Jacob Bosiokovic to end the inning.
The Terps won the game in the ninth. Junior Nick Cieri walked to being the inning before being replaced by pinch runner Zach Jancarski. Sophomore Kevin Biondic followed with a single that moved Jancarski to second.
The next at bat saw Smith work an eight-pitch walk. Papio then ripped the first pitch he saw into right to plate a pair and tie the game. After Bechtold drew a four-pitch walk, Maynard slapped a 1-1 pitch passed a drawn in infield to score Smith and win the game.
The walk-off win was Maryland's second in as many games after notching just one win in that fashion last season. It was also Rescigno's second win in as many contests after going through the first 17 appearances of his career without a victory.
With his 10 strikeouts, Shawaryn passed Brett Harman (2008-12) and B. Agamennone (1995-98) on the school's all-time list with 256. He is 16 strikeouts away from tying Steve Schmoll's (2000-03) record.
The Terrapins have now won five out of its last six games against Ohio State dating back to last season.
Maryland returns to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Richmond. The game can be heard live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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