By Gill Vesely

In front of an announced 1,370 people, the largest crowd of the season, Mike Shawaryn and the Maryland Terrapins Baseball team held off the Cal State Fullerton Titans, 2-1, Friday night in College Park.

Shawaryn struck out the very first batter of the game, Titans leadoff hitter Dustin Vaught, and never looked back from there. The righty ended with a career-high 13 strikeouts and kept Cal State Fullerton scoreless through eight innings of work. He wasted no time on the mound, attacking hitters with first pitch strikes, which he described as being “kind of my mojo.” On the hill for the Titans was Thomas Eshelman, who also pitched eight and left with five Ks.

Maryland head coach John Szefc praised Shawaryn, saying he can see him “pitching in Yankee Stadium someday,” but was also impressed with Eshelman. “He was outstanding,” he said. “That guy’s a high level pro right there. That’s a high level pro arm.”

The offensive was lacking for both teams in this game, with the Terps’ two runs coming as byproducts of an error made by the Titans. Kengo Kawahara and Jamal Wade were responsible for the RBIs for Maryland, which enjoyed a 2-0 lead (starting in the second inning) until the top of the ninth.

Kevin Mooney came in to relieve Shawaryn, but was pulled after walking the only two batters he saw. After an RBI from the Titans’ Jake Jefferies, the score became 2-1. Then Alex Robinson came in for the Terps, and ended the game the way Shawaryn started it: with a strikeout. Robinson achieved his third save of the season while Shawaryn moved to 9-0 on the year. Despite the dramatic ending, Maryland was able to top the Titans in the end.

“It’s a great team win,” Shawaryn said. “I know a lot of guys want[ed] to get this win, and want to get the series win, and possibly the sweep, and the way you do that is get the win on Friday night.” The Terps and Titans will be back at it Saturday at 2 p.m. in College Park.