BALTIMORE, Maryland, Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - They started the season with only one win in the first six games; for the mathematically challenged, that left Maryland's Baseball Team at one win and five losses. They started today's game by falling behind, 6-0, after one and one-half innings.
This is why they pay college baseball coaches the big money. Except that they don't. How could they? At today's home-opener on a beautiful March day, the official attendance was 257. When Maryland played at Louisiana State ten days ago, the crowds were in excess of 7,000 fans.
Anyway.
After the 1-5 start, the determined Terps swept three tough weekend games in Cary, North Carolina at a round-robin Tournament sponsored by USA Baseball and Notre Dame. After coming from behind in the 9th inning to beat Notre Dame, 4-3 in the first game, Maryland proceeded to crush then No. 6 North Carolina State, 9-2, and Dayton, 11-2. Playing at home for the first time today, Maryland overcame William & Mary's 6-run second inning by scoring 4 of their own runs in the bottom of that inning, Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Terps scored three more times to take the lead for good.
But that wasn't the end of the game. Maryland proceeded to add single runs in the 7th and 8th innings, enabling them to hold off Tribe runs in the 8th and 9th. The final score was Maryland 9, William & Mary 8.
Hunter Parsons started for Maryland, but did not pitch well. He was charged with all six of William & Mary's 2nd inning runs, which were accomplished with five hits and two bases on balls, in just one and two-thirds innings and 43 total pitches. Once again, however, relief hurler Rich Hill helped save the Terps, going three and one-third innings of shut-out baseball and striking out 6.
Tayler Stiles pitched next and was the beneficiary of Maryland's three-run sixth. He was credited with the win with one scoreless (and hitless) inning. The end-of-game staff was a bit shaky but got the job done. Mike Rescigno pitched the seventh inning, giving up one earned run and three hits. Ryan Selmer pitched the 8th and 9th to get the save, his second, though he was charged with three hits, one walk and the Tribe's final run.
No fewer than five Maryland hitters had two hits in the Terps' 13 hit attack. Centerfielder Zach Jancarski and starting third baseman Kevin Biondic were each credited with two runs batted in.
The left the Terps record at 5-5. They will attempt to move over .500 when they host St. Joseph's on Wednesday at 4 pm.
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