COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Junior Brian Shaffer tossed seven innings and struck out eight while allowing just one run to propel the Maryland baseball team to a 7-1 win over Bryant Friday afternoon at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
Junior Will Watson led the Terrapins (7-5) offensively with two hits and three RBIs. Maryland has won six straight games, its longest winning streak since winning 10 straight between March 8-22 of 2015.
Shaffer was the story early as the right-hander sat down the first 11 Bulldog batter he faced. The first he let on, Mickey Gasper, ended up scoring Bryant's only run of the game when Jimmy Titus singled up in with two outs in the fourth.
Maryland struggled to find a foothold against Bryant starter Steve Theetge, other than stranding the bases loaded after three walks in the fourth, until a two-run sixth that ultimately decided the game. Sophomore Marty Costes led off the inning with a single and moved to second when senior Brandon Gum walked. The pair moved up a base on a Nick Cieri sac bunt.
Watson then plated Costes with a bloop single to left off Bryant reliever Jack Ipsen to tie the game. Gum came in to score on a Madison Nickens sac fly to give Maryland the lead, 2-1.
The Terps padded the lead in a three-run seventh frame. Junior Zach Jancarski singled up the middle to open the inning and took second on a Nick Dunn single. Costes was then hit by a pitch to load the bases before Gum walked to score Jancarski.
After Cieri grounded into a double play, Watson came up big again, slapping a single through the whole between third and short two plate a pair of runs. Watson's three RBIs is a new career high.
Junior Kevin Smith scored Maryland's sixth run, singling up the middle to start the eighth before heading to second on an AJ Lee sacrifice bunt. Jancarski sent Smith home on a single to center. Jancasrki would end up scoring himself after moving to third on an error that saw Nick Dunn reach and going the last 90 feet to the plate on a Costes single.
Shaffer's eight strikeouts tied a career high and he lowered his ERA to 2.19. Sophomore left-hander Andrew Miller finished out the last two frames, striking out five.
Gum has reached base in his last 10 games after walking a career-high three times on Friday. Costes has a team-high six multi-hit games.
Maryland is back in action Saturday afternoon against Bryant, with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. Coverage can be seen on BTN Plus ($) via BTN2Go or heard on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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