Terps pick up three Big Ten wins in road sweep of Rutgers

By Gillian Vesely

The Maryland Terrapins (18-8, 5-1 Big Ten) swept the Rutgers Scarlet Knights by a combined score of 20-3 the weekend of April 1-2 in their second Big Ten series of the season.

The Terps’ offense only got better throughout the course of the weekend, culminating in a 9-1 win in the second game of the Sunday double-header and the last game of the series.

On Saturday, Maryland was led offensively by Zach Jancarski, who went 4-for-5 at the plate. Right-hander Brian Shaffer picked up the win on the mound for the Terps, giving up five hits through seven innings pitched. He moves to 4-1 on the season.

After scoring in the top of the first, the Terps kept their momentum going for the remainder of the game. Kevin Smith homered in the second before Maryland put together a three-run frame in the fifth inning. The Scarlet Knights’ only run came off a solo home run by senior Christian Campbell in the sixth.

In the front end of Sunday’s back-to-back, the Terps tacked on five runs between the seventh and eighth innings to seal their second victory of the series, 6-1. After Rutgers scored in the third, the contest was knotted at one apiece through the seventh when Maryland used small ball — including two bunts — to get a pair of runs on the board. Their three-run eighth ensured the game win and the series victory.

The final game of the series saw Maryland put up 10 hits to grab its 17th win out of the last 20 games. Brandon Gum, who had at least one hit in each game of the series, contributed to a four-run third inning with a solo home run, the second of a back-to-back with teammate Marty Costes. Tyler Blohm got the victory for the Terps on the hill.

Maryland will look to keep its streak rolling when it returns home to face Richmond Tuesday at 4 p.m.