Left-hander Robert Galligan throws a pitch during Maryland’s 3-1 loss to Iowa at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium on April 11, 2015.
Entering Saturday afternoon’s game against Cal State Fullerton, Terrapins baseball left-hander Robert Galligan was expected to throw one inning.
But two pitches into the contest, the circumstances changed.
Galligan, who hasn’t started yet this season, entered the game during the first inning after left-hander Tayler Stiles took a line drive to the face and was carted off the field.
Confronted with an unexpected situation, Galligan responded by throwing six innings of one-run ball en route to his first win of the season. And when the No. 21 Terps take on VCU this evening, Galligan will provide head coach John Szefc’s squad with a reliable pitching option, whether as a starter or a reliever.
“It’s just kind of endurance and just preparing well,” Galligan said Saturday. “If it’s one batter, or if it’s however many batters I’ve faced today, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Galligan, who entered the game with a 1.21 ERA over 22.1 innings, gave up six hits Saturday. And when right-hander Ryan Selmer relieved Galligan in the seventh inning, the Terps (27-11) held a two-run lead.
“It was big for him to step up right there,” said catcher Kevin Martir, who led the offense with three hits and two RBIs. “He knew what he had to do.”
Saturday’s performance marked Galligan’s second-straight appearance in which he impressed on the mound.
Szefc turned to Galligan early in the Terps’ loss against Iowa on April 12 after right-hander Kevin Mooney lost control of the strike zone during the second inning. Mooney walked four batters, and one of the free passes resulted in the Hawkeyes’ first run, prompting Szefc to use his bullpen earlier than anticipated.
The third-year coach thrust Galligan into the game with runners on second and third and one out, but the Syosset, New York, native escaped the inning without allowing a run.
For the next five innings, Galligan allowed one run to keep the Terps within striking distance. But the offense, which produced one run, didn’t give Galligan enough support in the 2-1 defeat.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound reliever was put in a similar situation a day earlier. In the Terps’ 3-1 loss to Iowa on April 11, Galligan entered the game in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and no outs and limited the Hawkeyes to one run.
“I’ve been in that spot all year,” Galligan said April 12. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to figure it out and find a way to get out of this and minimize the damage as much as possible.’”
In his fourth year with the team, Galligan has emerged as a valuable asset in the Terps’ bullpen after barely pitching his first three seasons in College Park. As a redshirt freshman, Galligan posted a 6.23 ERA in eight relief appearances, and he pitched just six times the following season and had a 9.95 ERA.
This season, Galligan’s 14 appearances are the second most on the team, and his pitching has helped the Terps record the second-lowest opposing batting average in the Big Ten.
“He’s been getting better and better and better as the season goes on,” Szefc said. “He’s clearly one of our toughest players. You’re talking about a guy who’s a walk-on that’s turned himself into a guy. How can you not be happy and respect that?”
Stiles had recently emerged as the Terps’ No. 2 starter, so he’ll leave a hole in the Terps’ rotation while recovering from face surgery. But Galligan isn’t concerned about his role going forward.
“I’m just trying to give the team the best chance to win,” Galligan said. “Until [pitching] coach [Jim] Belanger tells me, ‘You’re out,’ I’m going to stay locked in as long as I can.”
