Maryland’s Season Ends
The University of Maryland baseball team’s Cinderella story ended with an 11-2 loss to ACC rival University of Virginia Monday Night. With the loss, Maryland lost the NCAA Super Regional series 1-2, bringing their NCAA tournament record to 4-2.
The Terrapins lost the second game of the three-game series versus Virginia on Sunday, forcing a game three Monday night. In game three, a lot like game two, the pitching and offense was the main contributor to the Terrapins loss.
Game three started out in the worst possible way for Maryland. Starting pitcher Bobby Ruse pitched 2.1 innings and let up a total of six earned runs, three coming in the first inning. Ruse let three more runs score in the third and from there Maryland was in trouble.
The Terrapin offense struggled against a dominate performance from Virginia starter Josh Sborz. Sborz pitched seven shutout innings of four-hit ball, only allowing four walks to go along with nine strikeouts.
When Sborz was relieved by senior pitcher Austin Young, the Terrapins were finally able to get something going. Maryland put two runs across the board in the top of the eighth inning by a Blake Schmit double, cutting the Virginia lead to four.
That four run lead for Virginia would be increased in the bottom half of the inning however. The Cavialiers were able to score five runs off Maryland pitcher Tayler Stiles who had thrown four scoreless innings prior, making the score 11-2.
That score would hold up as Maryland couldn’t come up with one last rally in the ninth to continue their magical season. With the win, Virginia advances to the College World Series something Maryland has not done in over 20 years.
The loss should not be a total disappointment for the Maryland team and its fans. The Terrapins showed the can compete with the best baseball programs in the country with a relatively young team. Maryland fans will have something to look forward to in the coming years as the Terrapins will have an easier chance to make it back to the NCAA tournament with their move to the Big Ten Conference.
