The line of players and coaches to greet Maryland baseball left-hander Billy Phillips as he returned to the dugout after the first inning against James Madison was longer than the usual welcoming committee following a scoreless frame.
But Phillips is far from the regular starting pitcher.
Having battled leukemia and waited two years to debut for the Terps earlier this season, Phillips was met with added appreciation when he walked off the mound after cleanly getting the first three outs of his first college start.
Behind Phillips’ four scoreless innings, the longest appearance of his career, Maryland bucked its six-game losing streak, its worst stretch since 2011. The Terps beat James Madison, 6-1, to sweep the season series over the Dukes.
“I’ve got guys on the team who, doesn’t matter the outcome, they’re here to support me,” Phillips said. “This time, the smiles were a little bit bigger.”
With Friday starter Taylor Bloom still working back from a concussion suffered April 13, coach Rob Vaughn opted for a staff day Wednesday to preserve arms for the weekend. Phillips’ start saved right-hander Mark DiLuia for the Friday contest against Michigan State.
Unlikely to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Regional and sitting in 11th place in the Big Ten, the Terps (17-23) need to prioritize conference games as they aim to earn a spot in the conference tournament.
But despite Phillips’ 8.49 ERA in 11 ⅔ innings entering Wednesday, the Wilmington, Delaware, native was solid against the Dukes (21-20), striking out four, allowing two baserunners and setting up Maryland’s bullpen for success.
“The plan originally was that he was just going to go two innings,” center fielder Zach Jancarski said. “Billy’s personality, what he’s been through, he heard that in one ear and out the other. … He wants the ball in his hand.”
By the time Phillips (1-0, 6.32 ERA) was replaced in the top of the fifth, the Terps had a 3-0 lead.
Returning to the lineup after a three-game suspension for violating team rules, left fielder Marty Costes reached on an infield single with two outs in the first, first baseman Kevin Biondic blooped an RBI triple down the right-field line and Jancarski plated him with another infield hit.
Maryland hit three home runs Wednesday, solo shots from right fielder Randy Bednar and Nick Dunn and a two-run blast from designated hitter Will Watson, following his 5-for-11 performance last weekend.
“Our offense, kind of consistently through [all nine batters], were tough outs,” Jancarski said. “We just played a really clean game today.”
Just one Maryland reliever entered Wednesday with an ERA lower than 4.29, making many of its attempted staff days recipes for disaster. Last week against VCU, for example, six pitchers combined to allow 14 runs.
But following Phillips, four relievers combined to hold James Madison to one run, including right-hander Ryan Hill, a senior who hadn’t pitched this season before Wednesday due to NCAA eligibility issues.
“You need guys this time of year to step up and do some things,” Vaughn said. “Hopefully he can be a part of that.”
Maryland’s last win before its six-game skid was a 2-1 win over James Madison on April 10, and with an all-around effort against the Dukes on Wednesday, the Terps rebounded following Phillips’ solid outing.
“I just try to go out there and show them that I want this a lot,” Phillips said. “You’ve got to be thankful for every opportunity that you get because I don’t get a whole lot of them. So, when I do, I try to make the most of it.”
