Maryland baseball struck out 16 times in its 6-1 loss to No. 4 LSU

Maryland baseball catcher Dan Maynard glared at LSU right-hander Alex Lange and softly muttered the words “no way” after a borderline pitch on the outside corner in the fourth inning was called a strike. Maynard eventually struck out, and he showed more frustration after striking out in the final frame, tossing his bat in the air and catching it.

He was far from the only Maryland hitter who didn’t make contact in a 6-1 loss to No. 4 LSU in the series opener Friday night. The Terps struck out 16 times, 12 of those coming against Lange, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for their third loss in four games to start the season.

After Maryland right-hander Brian Shaffer allowed three runs in the bottom of the third, Terps shortstop Kevin Smith, who struck out five times in the team’s loss to Louisville last weekend, hit a sinking line drive down the left-field line that plated Maryland’s first and only run.

With runners on second and third, Maynard and third baseman AJ Lee each receiving an at-bat with the tying run on scoring position. However, Lange struck both out to end the inning.

Though Maryland’s fourth inning rally wasn’t its last opportunity — the Terps had runners on base in every inning — the club struggled to advance runners late.

The Terps offense, which managed to score just once after totaling 19 runs over three games last weekend, was unable to capitalize on Shaffer’s second start of the season. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three runs and six hits while walking three and striking out six.

Tigers catcher Michael Papierski hit a three-run home run to left field against left-hander Tayler Stiles in the eighth to give LSU insurance that wouldn’t be necessary.

Lange and right-handers Todd Peterson, Hunter Newman and Austin Bain kept the Terps off the board.

With a pair of runners on base and two outs in the ninth inning, Terps outfielder Marty Costes stared at a pitch on the inside corner that was called strike three to end the game. Costes bent his knees and glared at the dirt below him, representing the final strikeout in a subpar offensive performance.