BATON ROUGE, La. – Junior Kevin Smith and sophomore Marty Costes each notched two hits, but two three-run innings pushed No. 5 LSU past the Maryland baseball team, 6-1, at Alex Box Stadium at Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge Friday night.

The Terrapins (1-3) also received six and two thirds of solid work from right hander Brian Shaffer, who struck out six and walked three. Maryland outhit the Tigers 9-8.

Maryland threatened in the top of the first, with Costes doubling with two outs before redshirt senior Brandon Gum reached on a botched toss to first from the catcher on a third strike in the dirt. Junior Will Watson would strikeout to end the inning.

Shaffer struck out four through two, but ran into trouble in the third. Three consecutive hits highlighted LSU's three-run frame.

The Terps responded with a run of their own in the top half of the fourth. Gum opened the inning with a single, and after a Will Watson strikeout, Madison Nickens walked. Smith then roped a double to left to plate Gum. Dan Maynard and AJ Lee were unable to capitalize, both striking out to bring the inning to an end.

The Terps put runners on in the remaining five innings, but were unable to score. Michael Papierski's three-run homer off left-hander Tayler Stiles in the eighth put the game away for the Tigers.

Lee and sophomore Nick Dunn reached in the ninth, but Costes struck out to end the game.

Maryland returns to action Saturday afternoon for game two of the series with RHP Taylor Bloom taking the hill. First pitch from Alex Box Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET and coverage can be seen on SEC Network + and heard on the Maryland Baseball Network.

-Terps-