In yesterday’s inglorious battle of conference-worst units, Towson’s pitching found a way to be just better than the Terrapin baseball team’s hitting.
Tigers’ pitchers Mike Volpe, Wes Shifflett and Drew Permison, staples of a Towson pitching stable that ranks last in the Colonial Athletic Association, combined to hold the Terps’ ACC-worst offense to just one unearned run in a 3-1 win that split the instate season series.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Bennett left the bases loaded against Permison in the bottom of the ninth when he popped out to first.
“Tyler is a good fastball hitter, and we thought if he went up there hunting a fastball we might get a good chance,” coach Erik Bakich said. “We had good energy tonight. We just couldn’t find a guy to get that big hit when we needed it most.”
Whether it was the soggy field conditions or the quality of the starting pitching, both teams started slowly offensively. Towson (12-27) struck first when leadoff hitter Ben Winter singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by left fielder Mike Rozak. After two straight outs, cleanup hitter Austin Harclerode drove a ball to the fence in right field, plating Winter.
Despite taking the loss in this game for the Terps (15-25), reliever Matt Passauer continued to emerge as a potential weekend relief option after striking out six Tigers and allowing just one earned run in 3.2 innings.
A transfer from Duquesne, Passauer sat out last season and spent the first 40 games of this season pitching in games already well in hand.
But after yet another solid outing, Passauer has impressed his coach enough to potentially merit more important assignments as the season goes on.
“There is no question that was the best he has pitched all season,” Bakich said. “His role all season has been in long relief when we need someone to pitch multiple innings. Now he is starting to prove he can pitch when the game is closer.”
Despite a 17.28 ERA in only 16.2 innings this season, Volpe baffled the Terps’ hitters, limiting them to four hits with two strikeouts and no walks in five innings. Shifflett relieved Volpe and threw two scoreless innings before the Terps took advantage of closer Drew Permison’s control issues to threaten the Tigers’ lead.
Terps’ shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez reached second base when the Tigers’ left fielder misplayed his line drive, and the Terps quickly loaded the bases after consecutive walks from Permison. Rodriguez then scampered home on a wild pitch, accounting for the Terps’ only run.
In the ninth, the Terps used a bunt single from defensive replacement Jon Wilson and two more walks from Permison to load the bases. But despite Permison’s shaky control, Bennett went after the first pitch he saw, popping out to end the threat.
lemaire@umdbk.com
