DELAND, Fla. – Senior right-hander Hunter Parsons struck out a career high 10 over seven shutout innings as the Maryland baseball team defeated Stetson, 3-0, at Melching Field Friday night.
The Terrapins (8-4) scored seven runs in the final four frames to put the game away after Parsons dominated the Hatters (5-8) over his seven frames. The senior didn't record a 1-2-3 inning on the night, but did not allow a runner to reach third base. Parsons has now gone 11 innings without allowing a run.
The story was Parsons against Stetson starter Robbie Peto for the first five innings as both starters put up zero after zero. The Terps threatened with two in scoring position in the first but could not bring a run across.
Freshman Maxwell Costes broke the tie in the sixth, rocketing a Peto pitch over the fence in left for his second home run in as many games. In the seventh, the Terps plated a pair, with sophomore Randy Bednar hitting a double down the left field line to bring home Tommy Gardiner and Chris Alleyne.
Parsons exited after seven innings after scattering six hits and allowing one walk. In two career starts against Stetson, Parsons went 16 innings, allowed eight hits, did not give up a run and struck out 19 to just one walk.
In the eighth after some struggles from right-hander Nick Turnbull, both freshman lefty Andrew Vail and sophomore righty Mark DiLuia produced consecutive outs to get the Terps out of the jam.
Bednar was once against at the center of proceedings in the ninth, taking Danny Garcia deep for his third homer of the season to make it 4-0. Senior Taylor Wright then came to the plate and hit his first big fly of the year down the right field line.
The Terps blew the game open with a pair of RBI singles from freshman Benjamin Cowles and Gardiner to make it 7-0. Senior right-handed pitcher John Murphy finished off the game for the Terps with a quick three up, three down frame.
Maryland has now won eight of 10 games since starting the season 0-2. The Terps shutout win was their largets in shutout fashion since defeating Princeton 15-0 on March 13, 2015. Sophomore catcher Justin Vought threw out two runners at second base and has now gunned down six runners this season.
The Terps and Hatters will contest game two of the series Saturday at Melching Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., and fans can watch the action on ESPN+ or listen on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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