IOWA CITY, IA – Maryland (17-9, 2-0 B1G) secured its first Big Ten series win in its first conference series of the season on Saturday, taking down Iowa (19-6, 0-2 B1G), 7-4, at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, IA. That win gives the Terps 13 wins in their last 15 games, including four-straight series wins overall.
The Terps jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a big blast from Luke Shliger to lead off the game. His leadoff solo homer set the tone, and Bobby Zmarzlak doubled that lead, reaching on a fielder's choice that allowed Nick Lorusso to score.
Lorusso had himself a day at the plate, recording his 13th multi-hit game of the season, a three-hit day that extended his current hitting streak to 24 games. He came up big in the top of the eighth inning after Iowa had taken a 4-3 lead off a three-run homer from Brennen Dorighi, drawing a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 4-4.
Coming off a four-hit, two-homer day, Terps shortstop Matt Shaw didn't stop at the plate, recording three RBI, including his game-winning two-run single in the eighth, capping off a three-run inning for Maryland.
Nick Dean bounced back in a big way, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning as he threw five scoreless innings on the mound against the Hawkeyes, giving up one hit and striking out four. In the back-end of the bullpen, Tommy Kane had a fantastic outing, closing the win out with two scoreless innings of work, giving up two hits and striking out two.
Breaking Down The Action
- Shliger led off the game for the Terps with a solo homer to right field as Maryland took a quick 1-0 lead.
- Zmarzlak followed, doubling the lead at 2-0 in the first as he reached on a fielder's choice.
- Shaw added to Maryland's lead at 3-0 in the top of the second inning with an RBI sacrifice fly.
- Anthony cut into the Maryland lead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single, making it 3-1.
- Dorighi gave Iowa the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, 4-3, hitting a three-run homer with two outs.
- Maryland tied things up in the top of the eighth at 4-4 as Lorusso drew a bases-loaded RBI walk.
- Shaw gave the Terps a 6-4 lead with a two-run single, continuing his massive weekend at the plate.
- Kane stranded two in scoring position for Iowa in the bottom of the eighth, battling out of a one-out Iowa threat to keep the Maryland lead at 6-4.
- Lorusso gave the Terps insurance in the top of the ninth, reaching on a fielding error as Eddie Hacopian scored to make it 7-4.
By The Numbers
- 4: Terps hitters that recorded multi-hit games on Saturday evening.
- 13: Wins for Maryland over its last 15 games.
- 13: Number of multi-hit games this season for Lorusso after Saturday, including five in his last six games. He's hitting .482 (14-for-29) over that stretch.
- 15: RBI for Shaw in his last four games
- 24: Number of consecutive games with a hit for Lorusso after his first-inning single.
- 30: RBI this season for Shaw after a three-RBI day on Saturday.
- 43: Number of RBI this season for Lorusso as he leads the Big Ten.
Up Next
- The Terps and Hawkeyes conclude their weekend series at 1 p.m. Sunday. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and the Maryland Baseball Network.