Maryland baseball’s offense falters in extra innings in 4-3 loss to Michigan State

Maryland baseball right-hander Hunter Parsons held off Michigan State twice in the teams’ game Friday, but he couldn’t stave off the Spartans pressure the third time around.

After Parsons escaped a bases loaded jam in the 11^th inning and stranded runners on second and third in the 12^th, Michigan State center fielder Brandon Hughes hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 13th. While the Terps only managed one hit in the extra frames, Michigan State defeated Maryland, 4-3, in East Lansing.

A win would’ve clinched Maryland’s spot in the eight-team Big Ten Tournament, but the Terps (27-25, 12-11) are still fighting for the final spot in the tournament with Illinois. A Maryland victory in a rubber match with the Spartans Sunday or an Illinois loss against Michigan Friday night would clinch the Terps’ spot in the tourney.

Thursday, the Terps defeated Michigan State (34-17, 13-10) behind a complete game from right-hander Mike Shawaryn. Right-hander Taylor Bloom, who entered with a 2.45 ERA, allowed two earned runs in 6.2 innings in the second contest of the series.

But the Terps’ defense put coach John Szefc’s squad in an early hole as it committed four errors. The Spartans took advantage.

Michigan State scored first in the second inning with the help of two errors by third baseman Andrew Bechtold. Bechtold, who leads the team with 13 errors, had improved defensively since struggling earlier this season, but the two mistakes put the Terps behind early for the second consecutive day.

The Terps responded in the third, though, when second baseman Nick Dunn singled in right fielder Anthony Papio, who went 3-for-6 from the plate. Maryland took the lead in the fifth when Papio singled in Bechtold.

But the Spartans regained the lead in the seventh with the help of an error by Dunn and two RBI singles, forcing Bloom out of the game. In the eighth, Maryland tied the contest when first baseman Kevin Biondic grounded out to score designated hitter Madison Nickens.

Right-hander Ryan Selmer threw 3.2 scoreless relief innings, and Parsons, who usually starts, held off the Spartans until the 13^th frame. But the Terps offense went stagnant in extra innings and couldn’t help the freshman hurler secure the team’s postseason spot.