Right-hander Brian Shaffer was coming off two promising starts entering the Terrapins baseball team’s game against High Point on Sunday afternoon.
After throwing a complete game in 99 pitches against Cal State Fullerton two weeks ago, Shaffer threw another complete game last week against Iowa in just 90 pitches.
Shaffer went deep into the game again Sunday, pitching 8.1 innings, but the sophomore couldn’t do enough to lead the Terps to a victory in the rubber match of the series. Shaffer allowed four runs off six hits in the Terps’ 4-3 loss to the Panthers. Coach John Szefc’s squad has now lost back-to-back weekend series.
After matching a season-high 13 runs in a 13-5 win over the Panthers on Saturday, the Terps (14-14) recorded just six hits Sunday as temperatures dropped into the mid-40s with 15 mph wind chills.
Shaffer gave up his third home run of the season when center fielder Josh Green took him deep in the second inning to give High Point (20-8) a 2-0 lead.
But the Pylesville native allowed just one more hit until the seventh inning, and the Terps responded three innings earlier to take a 3-2 lead.
After designated hitter Nick Cieri walked, left fielder Marty Costes hit a double. First baseman Kevin Biondic then hit an RBI double to score Cieri and Costes, and center fielder Anthony Papio followed that up with a single to drive in Biondic.
But High Point took back the lead in the seventh when designated hitter Drew Fopeano hit a two-RBI double, and the Panthers wouldn’t look back.
Just one Terps player was able to get on base the rest of the contest. Though Shaffer has been impressive for the Terps the past three weeks, he gave up two crucial runs in the seventh inning Sunday in the eventual defeat.
