The Maryland baseball team is enjoying the program’s greatest season in recent memory. The Terrapins won a school-record 46 games while claiming the Big Ten Conference regular season championship – its first conference title in 51 years.
They were rewarded with the 15th overall seed and got to host its first regional ever in the NCAA tournament. However, head coach Ron Vaughn’s ball club is in danger of having their season abruptly end this weekend.
After putting up an historic 23 runs in their first game against Long Island, Maryland was doubled up by Connecticut, 10-5, on Saturday night. Now, Maryland slides to the loser bracket of the double elimination tournament. They’ll face Wake Forest Sunday afternoon in an elimination game.
Even if Maryland beats their old ACC foes, the Terrapins still face an uphill battle to make it out of the regional to the Super Regionals. Maryland would then have to defeat the same Huskies that beat them Saturday, twice.
In summary, Maryland has to win three straight over the next two days to advance out of the College Park region.
The winner of Sunday’s game between Maryland and Wake Forest will play Connecticut Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. If the Maryland-Wake winner beats UConn, a winner-takes-all game will be played Monday.
The good news for Maryland is that the game(s) are on their home field, the Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
Maryland will need the meat of their order to be better than 3-for-17 like it was Saturday night. Big Ten Player of the Year Chris Alleyne went hitless in five at-bats. Nick Lorusso was 1-of-5, Matt Shaw had the most success with two singles in four at-bats. Meanwhile, Troy Schreffler Jr. was 0-for-3 with a walk.
