In the second game of the Maryland baseball team’s doubleheader Sunday, Michigan State starting pitcher Keegan Baar had early control issues, often throwing pitches in the dirt.
Once it became a common occurrence in the second inning, cheers from the Maryland dugout rang out.
“Dirt! Dirt! Dirt!” they sang with each pitch that missed low. They continued to sing even when right-hander Jake Lowery relieved Baar.
The Terps were in good spirits as they won both games of their doubleheader and completed a sweep of the Spartans at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. In the three games, Maryland never trailed.
“Our guys did a good job of kind of throwing the first punch all weekend,” center fielder Zach Jancarski said. “It worked out really well for us.”
Maryland (27-11, 11-3 Big Ten) received a stellar performance from left-hander Tyler Blohm in game one. The freshman allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in each of the first three innings and threw over 50 pitches through the three frames. However, Blohm settled in to improve to 7-3 on the season.
Working his way out of several jams, Blohm allowed just five hits and no runs in five innings. Catcher Matt Byars’ line drive that was destined to drive in runners on first and second was snagged on the warning track by left fielder Madison Nickens. The play was key in preserving the Terps’ lead, as they went on to win 2-1.
Right-hander Ryan Hill and left-hander Andrew Miller combined to pitch the next three innings and right-hander Ryan Selmer forced left fielder Bryce Kelley to ground into a double play to earn his fifth save of the season.
Following a 12-run outburst Friday night, the Terps’ bats quieted for the most part Sunday. An RBI double from second baseman Nick Dunn in the first inning and a successful squeeze bunt by first baseman Brandon Gum in the fifth made the difference.
“Any time you can get on base, and I know that when I do, good things are going to happen because I’ve got such good guys behind me,” Jancarski said. “Any time one of our guys does it, it’s definitely a good energy swing for our dugout.”
The offense came to life in the second game, though, partly thanks to Baar’s early struggles. A wild pitch in the second inning allowed designated hitter Will Watson to score after he doubled and stole third. Jancarski roped a single to right-center shortly after to bring in two runs.
That was all the support right-hander Taylor Bloom needed as the Terps coasted to a 6-2 victory. The junior allowed one earned run, eight hits and struck out four in 7.2 innings in his fifth win of the season.
“Any time you have any run support, it takes that pressure off your shoulders and go out there and push,” Bloom said. “It just keeps everybody loose.”
Bloom threw 65 of his 93 pitches for strikes, leading coach John Szefc to praise the pitcher’s control. However, with just four strikeouts, Szefc also gave credit to the team’s fielders.
The Terps’ sweep of the Spartans was the third time they’ve taken all three games in a Big Ten series this season. The Terps are also 18-1 at home.
“We’re a really tough place to play at just because of the energy we have in the dugout,” Bloom said. “We just kind of supply the energy ourselves, and I think it’s really hard for teams to come in here and beat us.”
