COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Senior Madison Nickens went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs to help lead the Maryland baseball team past West Virginia, 7-6, on Tuesday night Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium Tuesday night.
The Terrapins (21-10, 6-3 Big Ten) overcame a 4-0 deficit after five and a half innings, scoring two runs in the sixth and five in the seventh. Maryland's bullpen combined to hold the Mountaineers to just one earned run over six and two thirds innings to finish the game.
West Virginia jumped in front with a Cole Austin three-run homer in the top of the first off Maryland starter Taylor Bloom. Jackson Cramer homered in the third off LHP Tayler Stiles in the third to extend the WVU lead to 4-0.
The Terps' only damage on WVU starter Alek Manoah was Nickens' two-run home run in the sixth. It was the senior's fourth bomb of the year and came after sophomore Nick Dunn had ripped a double to open the frame. The Mountaineers would add an unearned run in the top of the seventh.
Maryland found its bats after Manoah exited prior to its half of the seventh. Sophomore Dan Maynard led off the inning with solo home run off the light pole in left field. One batter later, senior Brandon Gum walked before sophomore Marty Costes singled to right field.
Dunn then slapped a single through the right side to plate Gum. After Will Watson walked, sophomore AJ Lee dropped a perfect suicide squeeze that plated Costes. Lee ended up on first with a single after no one covered the bag.
Nickens gave Maryland the lead with a single through the left side. Watson and Dunn scored on the play to make it a 7-5 game.
Redshirt junior Ryan Selmer, who had come in in relief in the seventh, got two outs in the ninth and gave up one run. Junior RHP Ryan Hill entered with runners on the corners and struck out Darius Hill to end the game. Selmer earned his second win of the season while Hill nabbed the first save of his Maryland career.
The Terps moved to 12-1 this season at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. Junior Zach Jancarski joined Dunn and Nickens as the three Terrapins with multi-hit games.
Maryland returns to action Wednesday afternoon at George Mason with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Fans can listen to the action live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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