Kevin Martir
On Friday night, Jake Stinnett allowed three runs on three hits over five innings in the Terrapins baseball team’s season opener at No. 23 Florida. But the Terps could muster only three hits, and the right-hander took the loss in a 4-0 shutout.
In yesterday’s rubber match, the Terps produced five runs, but the Gators chased right-hander Jared Price in the second inning and poured in eight total runs.
Sandwiched in between was Saturday’s 9-7 victory, in which right-hander Mike Shawaryn won his first career start and the offense exploded for 13 hits and two home runs.
The Terps couldn’t get simultaneous solid efforts out of their pitching and offense, and they dropped two of three games to start the season against Florida in Gainesville, Fla., this weekend.
“It’s frustrating, but at the beginning of the season that’s going to happen,” coach John Szefc said. “You’re going to have some guys that come out of the gate quick and other guys that don’t.”
The Terps wasted a solid start from Stinnett, their No. 1 starter, in their 4-0 defeat. He struck out seven in his five innings, but the three runs he surrendered proved to be too much to overcome.
The Terps had chances to score, but they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Designated hitter Michael Montville and right fielder Anthony Papio combined to go 0-4 with three strikeouts.
Shawaryn was another bright spot on the pitching staff, pitching 5.2 innings of two-run ball for the victory Saturday. The bullpen allowed seven runs throughout the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. But right-hander Kevin Mooney, who was named to the preseason watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, came on and got the final four outs for the save.
Stinnett and Shawaryn’s quality outings against top-25 competition give stability to a weekend rotation that has two new starters.
“That’s what we expect from both those guys,” Szefc said. “Even though Mike is a young guy, he’s pretty seasoned. He’s a very mature guy for a freshman.”
Price, on the other hand, was unable to throw strikes in his first college start. The sophomore, who primarily worked as a reliever last season, walked five batters and gave up five runs in less than two innings of work in yesterday’s 8-5 loss. Szefc was unfazed by Price’s slow start and noted the Mohnton, Pa., native played well during preseason.
“We got the butterflies out of the way, so hopefully after this series we can open up and get comfortable,” catcher Kevin Martir said. “It’s only the first three games.”
Martir was one of the Terps’ most consistent options this weekend, as he went 5-for-13 with four RBIs and one run in the series.
So while the Terps didn’t consistently excel in every aspect, they aren’t worried. The elements for success are there. It’s just a matter of putting them together, some Terps said.
“One day hitting’s going to be on,” Martir said. “Another day pitching’s going to be on. We will figure it out. Everyone’s going to have their days. We’re just going to have to learn how to pick up each other and keep moving forward.”
