No. 19 Maryland baseball bounces back from Friday loss with 14-5 victory over Minnesota

No. 19 Maryland baseball (34-18, 14-6 B1G), after allowing 10 earned runs in the first game of the series, looked to avenge its lackluster pitching performance against Minnesota (15-32, 8-12) with a better showing on Saturday.

Junior right-hander Jason Savacool and the bullpen did just that, allowing only one earned run and five total, off of three errors. Savacool struck out six in his outing while allowing seven hits on 107 total pitches, getting back to his dominant ways after experiencing a recent rough patch.

“Jason was really good,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “Just competed, got early outs, made bigger pitches when he needed to. I thought his composure was really, really good out there.”

Not only did the pitching excel, but the Terps showcased why they have one of the top offenses in the nation, recording 14 runs and 12 hits. Matt Woods went yard twice, while Matt Shaw hit a long ball himself, and two other Terps recorded multiple RBIs in an offensive showcase. With the cohesive effort between the bats and arms, Maryland handily defeated Minnesota, 14-5.

The game was delayed two times before first pitch, with the original start time of 2 p.m. being ultimately set back to 6:30.

Once it did begin, Savacool started strong. The right-hander allowed only two hits and walked only one batter throughout the first three innings. Savacool’s second inning was his strongest as he struck out two batters and allowed only one hit. After three scoreless innings Savacool had struck out four while allowing only two hits.

Meanwhile, the Maryland offense got hot immediately. 

The Terps got onto the board in the first inning following an RBI single by sophomore first baseman Eddie Hacopian through the left side, bringing home sophomore designated hitter Ian Petrutz.

Maryland then added a combined eight runs in the third and fourth innings. 

Senior third baseman Nick Lorusso drove an RBI double into left center in the third inning, breaking the program’s all-time career RBI record. It was Lorusso’s 157th RBI of his career, and the 87th of the season. Lorusso broke the single-season RBI record just a weekend ago, passing Derek Hacopian’s 1992 record. 

Junior shortstop Matt Shaw blasted a three-run home run in the fourth, his 155th, 156th, and 157th RBIs of his career to put himself even with Lorusso. Shaw broke the all-time home run record earlier this season.

“Watching those guys go back and forth is pretty awesome. Two very special players [that] are gonna be all over the record books for a long time,” Vaughn said.

After a home run from fifth-year right fielder Matt Woods, the Terps led by eight by the end of the fourth inning. It was the first of two from Woods, who blasted a three-run shot into left center in the fifth. 

“He’s here to do what we’re doing right now and that’s making a run at a championship … that shows you the complete player that he is,” Vaughn said. 

The Gophers added their first run in the fourth after a solo home run by shortstop redshirt sophomore Ike Mezzenga. Savacool recovered, however, allowing no more runs and only two hits to close the next two innings. 

The sixth inning was the last for Maryland’s starter, whose fatigue from a high pitch count began to show. Savacool and the defense gave up back-to-back unearned runs from the Gophers, with Savacool walking two batters. The right-hander was able to close the inning, however, forcing a line drive to Shaw. 

The Gophers added two runs in the eighth and ninth, but it was too late as the Terps ran away with a nine-run victory. 

“Our goal is to get to Omaha … Gotta win tomorrow to do that,” Shaw said. 

The two teams will play the rubber match on Sunday at noon.