COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland baseball team fought back from a 4-2 eighth inning deficit to tie the game at 4-4, but Illinois scored once in the ninth to secure a 5-4 victory over the Terrapins at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (25-20, 10-8 Big Ten) took an early lead, but were unable to secure a victory. Maryland starter sophomore Brian Shaffer went seven and a third and allowed four runs.
Maryland took the lead in the bottom of the first. Junior Madison Nickens lined a single into left to open the inning before freshman Nick Dunn walked. Freshman Marty Costes then reached on a fielder's choice that saw Dunn safe at second after an error by the second baseman.
Sophomore Kevin Biondic cashed in on the bases loaded situation with a sac fly to score Nickens. The Terps were unable to do anymore damage after Anthony Papio grounded out to end the inning.
After Illinois manufactured a run in the top of the third, the Terps put two on in the bottom half before Biondic grounded into a double play to end the inning. Maryland executed well to take back the lead in the fourth. Papio walked before advancing to second on an Andrew Bechtold sac bunt and scoring on a perfectly timed hit-and-run single from Zach Jancarski.
Illinois tied the game in the fifth with a run scored on a balk and then took the lead in the eighth after loading the bases to chase Shaffer with one out before Pat McInerney singled off Ryan Selmer to give the Illini a 4-2 lead.
The Terps fought back for a pair of runs in the bottom half of the eighth. Costes singled to center before Papio roped a double into right field. Bechtold then singled up the middle to bring home Costes.
Jancarski attempted a squeeze to score Papio, but he was unable to get the bunt down in a play that saw Papio get put out in a rundown and Bechtold advance all the way to third. Jancarski scored Bechtold with a flair single to left field.
Jason Goldstein gave Illinois the win with a two-out RBI single off Mike Rescigno.
Maryland returns to action Tuesday at West Virginia. Action is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and the game can be heard live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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