MINNEAPOLIS – Sophomore Brian Shaffer tied a career high with seven strikeouts over eight innings of work as the Maryland baseball team evened its series with Minnesota with a 4-2 win at Siebert Field Saturday afternoon.
The Terrapins (19-16, 5-3 Big Ten) took an early lead before Shaffer went to work to earn his fourth win of the season. Sophomore Kevin Smith finished with two hits and two RBIs while junior Mike Rescigno earned his third save of the season.
After threatening with two on in the first, the Terps jumped ahead in the second. Redshirt freshman Andrew Bechtold was hit by a pitch between a pair of outs before moving to third on a Zach Jancarski single.
After Madison Nickens drew a walk, Smith ripped a double down the left field line to plate two. A Dalton Sawyer delivery to Nick Dunn then got away from the catcher to allow Nickens to score and give the Terps a 3-0 lead.
The Terps once again threatened in the fourth, but after a Nickens walk and Smith single, Dunn lined out to center to end the inning.
Shaffer faced the minimum through three innings before working out of a fourth inning jam. Minnesota loaded the bases with two outs, but the sophomore forced Micah Coffey to fly out to end the inning. The Maryland starter was consistently effective throughout, striking out seven and walking just two.
The Terps struck for another run in the eighth. Freshman Marty Costes ripped a double to right center and moved to third on Kevin Biondic's groundout. Costes scored when a balk was called on Minnesota reliever Tim Shannon.
Minnesota notched its runs in the bottom half of the eighth on RBI singles from Coffey and Toby Hanson, but Shaffer struck out Jordan Smith to get out of the jam.
Shaffer's day ended after a walk to begin the ninth. Rescigno entered and induced a fly out before issuing a walk to bring the go ahead run to the plate. After a fly out for the second out, Kevin Biondic robbed Matt Fiedler of a hit with an incredible diving grab to his right to end the contest.
Shaffer has now pitched seven innings or more in six straight starts dating back to March 13. With his third save, Rescigno tied Ryan Selmer for the team lead.
Maryland and Minnesota contest game three of the series Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Coverage can be seen on BTN Plus.
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