Preview: Maryland baseball prepares for midweek action against George Washington

Following a weekend series win against Albany, Maryland baseball (11-8) gets set to take on George Washington (5-16) at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium on Tuesday.

The Terps are 7-1 in their last eight games after dropping all three games in the Cambria College Classic. They left Minneapolis three games under .500, but their recent hot stretch has flipped that the other way, now three games over.

Maryland is led by its dynamite offense, averaging 8.47 runs per game. 

Senior third baseman Nick Lorusso has led the way for the Terps offense, launching a team-high eight home runs. His .354 batting average and 31 RBIs are team-highs as well, as he’s been a mainstay in the lineup all season long.

Juniors Matt Shaw and Luke Shliger have also produced for the Terps’ offense. 

Shaw, Maryland’s star shortstop and a top MLB draft prospect, has added four home runs and 12 RBIs alongside a .315 batting average. Shliger, Maryland’s catcher and leadoff hitter, has posted two home runs and leads the team — among those with at least 10 at bats — with a .446 on base percentage. 

“He’s one of the best catchers in the country,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “We go as Luke goes and he does a great job setting the tone for the game.”

Maryland’s offense is one of the best home run hitting groups in the country, clubbing 35 on the season, the most in the Big Ten. Its 156 RBIs lead the conference as well.

But it hasn’t been all sunshine for the Terps.

The pitching staff for Maryland has had its struggles this season, allowing five or more runs in 12 of its 19 games with a 5.08 ERA. The staff has come into its own in the past eight games however, posting a 3.21 ERA since the Cambria College Classic. 

Junior left-hander Logan Ott is expected to see the most pitching time Tuesday with three to four innings, whether it’s in the start or in relief per Vaughn. Ott has a 4.24 ERA with a 2-0 record pitching on Tuesdays. 

Redshirt sophomore late-inning reliever Nigel Belgrave may also see time Tuesday after not pitching in the weekend series. 

“To just give him a weekend down and not have to get him up as huge because now that means he’ll be hot as can be on Tuesday,” Vaughn said. 

Belgrave has a 1.64 ERA on the year, striking out the fifth most batters of any Terp arm.

Opposite of Maryland, the Colonials enter averaging 5.6 runs per game.

Right fielder Eddie Micheletti Jr. does the most damage offensively for George Washington. The junior is batting .391 with a 1.028 OPS, both highest on the team. He’s also added 19 RBIs, a team-lead as well. 

Graduate students Anthony Frechette and Noah Levin are the home run hitters of the team, both smashing four thus far, tied for the team-high.

Pitching is where the Colonials have struggles with a 8.75 ERA this season. For comparison, their opponents have a 4.92. 

Junior ace Christopher Kahler has been the one standout from the pitching staff, with a 2.87 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. Starting in five games, Kahler has a 1-1 record and has struck out 31 batters in the process, 12 more than the next-closest on the team. 

George Washington does not have a regular weekday starter, cycling through seven arms in its 15-8 loss last Wednesday to Maine. The Colonials are looking for just their second midweek victory of the season.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m.