COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Freshman Maxwell Costes had two hits and four RBIs to help lead the Maryland baseball team past Maine, 9-6, at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Terrapins (4-2) secured a series sweep over the Black Bears (0-7) with the win. Sophomore Michael Pineiro had three hits, including a three-run home run in the game. The Terps racked up a season high 12 hits on the afternoon.
"I told the guys before the game that sweeps are about character," head coach Rob Vaughn said. "I was proud to see our guys battle back and proud of the way [Trevor] LaBonte started and got us going today. This team is going to play some close games and that's good for us."
The Terps got out of the gate early with five runs in the first inning. Sophomore Randy Bednar reached on a walk before Taylor Wright dropped down a sac bunt that put him on first after an errant throw from the pitcher to first base. After Justin Vought walked, Costes smoked a double down the left field line to plate a pair of runs.
One pitch later, Pineiro turned on a fastball and put it over the fence in right for the first home run of his college career. Bednar hit his second solo shot of the weekend in the second to make a 6-0 game.
In his first career start, right-hander Trevor LaBonte was excellent over five innings. Pitching against his home state school, LaBonte scattered three hits over his outing and struck out three while allowing just a single earned run which came in the fifth.
Maine started to cut into the lead with three more runs off Maryland's bullpen in the sixth before tying the ballgame with two more runs in the seventh. Freshman left-handed pitcher Andrew Vail induced a big pop out to end Maine's threat in that seventh inning.
After the Terps were unable to plate Vought after a lead-off double in the seventh, Maine put the home team in a spot of bother in the eighth, but freshman right-hander Will Glock picked up a clutch strikeout to end the threat.
In the bottom half of the frame, junior Caleb Walls started Maryland's threat with a walk before Bednar singled. Wright then doubled to left-center field to score Walls and give the Terps a lead they would not relinquish. Maine intentionally walked Vought to set up Costes, who hit a screamer past the third baseman to score two.
Costes is the first Maryland freshman to record four RBIs in a game since his brother Marty Costes achieved the feat April 2, 2016 against High Point.
Senior right-hander John Murphy shut the door in the ninth to earn his second save of the season. Through four innings of work this season, Murphy has not allowed a run and struck out eight to no walks. Glock picked up his first career win.
Maryland has now swept its last two home series dating back to last season (Rutgers, 5/11-13) and won eight straight at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium dating back to last season.
Maryland returns to action Tuesday afternoon at VCU with first pitch set for 3 p.m. Fans can listen to the contest live on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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