By Alex Littlehales

Slow and methodical was the name of the game, as both Maryland and Cal State had a surprising amount of trouble producing any offensive momentum.

“Zero hits, Zero runs,” echoed throughout the stadium almost every inning.

With a stagnant offense from both teams, the game would become a battle between pitchers, and who’s bullpen would be the first to crack.

Maryland threatened early with runners at the corners, and Jose Cuas up to bat who leads the team in RBI’s. Cuas cranked a deep shot to center field that had homerun potential, but was intercepted over the fence by Cal State’s Tyler Stieb.

Contradictory to his 5.40 era, Maryland’s Jake Drossner was pitching lights out from the mound. Four strikeouts and a single hit throughout four innings, paired his dominant strike percentage of 77.

The first five innings yielded just three hits for the Terps, yet Maryland was making solid contact on everything Cal State was throwing at them. It seemed that it wouldn’t take long for Cal State to crack, and for the Terps offense to start producing.

By the bottom of the sixth, Cal State’s John Gavin would be the first to succumb to the pressure. Gavin walked Jose Cuas, and a following fielding error would put Anthony Papio on first.

Freshman slugger Jamal Wade, with .561 slugging percentage, faced a full count, but was unable to spark anything for the Terps.

Cal State threatened with runners on first and second, but Drossner continued his deadly pitching and worked himself out of a jam. With the game still tied 0-0, Maryland would yet again have to earn a series sweep in extra innings.

After an unproductive 8th inning, Maryland’s Alex Robinson struck two batters in a row to put runners on first and second with zero outs.

Cal State’s Jake Jeffries hit a chopper down the first base path, where Kevin Smith was able to throw Dustin Vaught out at home, keeping the game scoreless and tied. Fans were seated on the edge of their seats, as Maryland was able to escape the inning with two runners in scoring position with two outs.

After another scoreless Terps inning, Cal State’s Taylor Bryant transformed a fastball down Broadway into the game’s first run, giving them the lead at the bottom of the 10th.

Maryland was unable to rally, and would loss the grind-it-out game 1-0.

The Terps drop to 27-11 on the season, but look to quickly rally against VCU this Tuesday.