OMAHA, Neb. – After dropping its second round contest to seventh-seeded Michigan State, the sixth-seeded Maryland baseball team defeated third-seeded Indiana, 3-0, in an elimination game to stay alive at the Big Ten Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park Friday.
The Terrapins (30-26) used a two-hit complete game shutouts from sophomore RHP Brian Shaffer and a two-run first inning home run from freshman Marty Costes to overcome the Hoosiers. It's Maryland's second win over Indiana in the tournament after a 5-3 on Wednesday in the first round.
“Coming back today in the late game was a really great show of toughness from our guys in general,” head coach John Szefc said. “It was a tough day for us this morning, but in tournaments like this it's all about how tough guys are, and I thought our guys did a good job.”
Maryland did its damage in the first. After senior Anthony Papio singled, Costes hit his team leading ninth home run of the season to left center field to put the Terps up 2-0. Freshman Nick Dunn continued the inning with a single, but the Terps were unable to get anymore off Indiana starter Evan Bell.
From there, Shaffer was untouchable, facing just two batters above the minimum and tying his career high with eight strikeouts. Of his 102 pitches, Shaffer tossed 73 strikes and did not walk a batter.
The Pylesville, Md. native sat the Hoosiers down in order seven times. It was his third complete game of the season. His 103.2 IP is the third most in a single season in Maryland history and his eight wins are tied for third.
After threatening in the second and fourth, Maryland added an insurance run in the seventh. Papio dribbled an infield single before Costes walked. Papio moved to third when Dunn reached on a fielder's choice before scoring on an error.
Maryland was forced to play a second game Friday after dropping a 4-3 decision to Michigan State earlier in the day.
Terrapin starter Taylor Bloom gave up two earned runs over seven and two thirds of work while Nick Cieri reached base in all four of his plate appearances with a solo home run.
Cieri started the action for Maryland in the second with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a Kevin Biondic groundout before coming in to score when sophomore Justin Morris singled through the right side.
After Michigan State tied the game in the fourth, Papio hit a solo shot off Spartan starter Ethan Landon to give Maryland the lead. Jordan Zimmerman followed in the ensuing half inning with a solo homer off Bloom to knot the game at 2-2.
Michigan State took the lead for good with two runs in the eighth. Cieri pulled one back with his third home run of the season in the bottom half of the eighth, but Spartan closer Dakota Mekkes ended the ball game with a four-out save.
Maryland returns to action Saturday against Iowa at 10 a.m. ET. Action can be seen live on BTN or listened to on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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