In the third inning of the Maryland baseball team’s 10-7 loss to then-No. 12 Louisville on Saturday, coach John Szefc made a change.
Catcher Justin Morris struck out in his lone at-bat, and during the Cardinals’ four-run second inning, Louisville outfielder Colin Lyman swung and missed at a pitch with two outs, but the pitch was out of Morris’ reach. Lyman reached first base on what should have been the end of a prolonged inning.
After watching Morris struggle, Szefc put in catcher Dan Maynard. It was a rare opportunity for the Burnt Hills, New York, native to take advantage of additional playing time.
Maynard, who hit .306 last season while backing up Morris, helped the Terps offense rally late against the Cardinals. He recorded a hit and a walk in his three at-bats while also scoring a run, earning him the start the next day against Alabama State.
“I wouldn’t say he supplanted Justin [as the starting catcher],” Szefc said. “Justin struggled a bit [Saturday] and we made a change there. Dan played well.”
Entering the game early and receiving multiple at-bats was a pleasant surprise for Maynard, who had a defined role as a pinch-hitter last season. He started just six contests a year ago, and he was preparing for a potential late-game plate appearance Saturday.
In 2016, Maynard learned to be ready to play at any point. Against the Cardinals, he received the opportunity earlier than usual.
“It’s not really that different,” Maynard said. “When you step in the box, you have to be ready to hit at some point or another. If you’re not ready to hit and you don’t expect to hit, you’re not going to hit.”
As the Terps prepared for a quick turnaround — Saturday’s contest ended around 11 p.m. and Sunday’s outing against Alabama State was scheduled to begin less than 12 hours later — Szefc wasn’t sure if Maynard would be “fresh enough” to start against the Hornets.
But Maynard said he was, ending the afternoon with two hits and a pair of RBIs to help Maryland earn its first win of the season.
“I would say [the starting time] boosts my confidence,” Maynard said. “The main difference is before, I was coming off the bench a bit rusty. Getting the start, I feel more relaxed in the box.”
Maynard also helped left-hander Tyler Blohm stay poised through his first collegiate start by talking with the freshman in the dugout. Blohm allowed five hits and three runs with four strikeouts in five innings while Maynard was behind the plate.
Maynard could receive more playing time at catcher against LSU this weekend, and first baseman Brandon Gum said the Terps’ tight-knit relationships allow them to produce regardless of who is in the lineup. In the final two games of the Clearwater Tournament, they responded to Maynard’s presence.
“The whole dugout has your back,” Gum said. “[Despite some position competitions], nobody is rooting for you to fail. They’re wanting you to succeed. That helps a lot in the box.”
