The Terrapins baseball team never could comfortably pull away from Tennessee on Friday.
After the Terps took two leads by at least three runs, the Volunteers responded each time to stay within striking range. And even when they took a 10-7 lead in the sixth inning, the Volunteers clawed back in the eighth and ninth inning.
But the Terps never let Tennessee grab the lead as right-hander Ryan Selmer got the final out in the ninth inning to hold off the Volunteers, 10-9. Despite ace right-hander Mike Shawaryn allowing a season-high six runs, the offense strung together 14 hits for their third straight game of scoring at least seven runs.
Designated hitter Marty Costes doubled in the first inning to drive in shortstop Kevin Smith and second baseman Nick Dunn. Tennessee left-hander Andy Cox then walked catcher Justin Morris with the bases loaded, advancing Costes home to give the Terps (4-4) a three-run lead.
After the Volunteers (6-2) scored a run in the second inning, Shawaryn walked his fourth batter of the game in the third inning. Entering Friday, Shawaryn had walked just two batters all season. And with the help of two RBIs, the Volunteers tied the contest.
The Terps regained momentum in the fourth inning, though, when they scored five runs powered by third baseman Andrew Bechtold’s bases-clearing double to take an 8-3 lead.
But the Volunteers wouldn’t go away.
After Tennessee scored a run in the fifth inning, left-hander Robert Galligan replaced Shawaryn. But Galligan struggled to slow the Volunteers’ offense, which scored a combined 58 runs in its last four contests, as it scored three more runs to cut the Terps’ lead to 8-7.
Dating back to last season, Shawaryn had allowed three runs or less in 15 straight starts. That streak ended Friday.
The Volunteers almost made another comeback in the ninth inning with a runner on third base with two outs down a run, but Selmer recorded a strikeout to seal the victory.
