Originally Published for WMUC Sports (March 8, 2014)
by John Vittas
Mike Shawaryn pumped his fist and yelled into the Florida sunshine, demonstratively celebrating a crucial double play that stifled the seventh-inning Seminole rally, preserving Maryland’s 3-0 lead.
“It was a big play so I let loose a little bit there," Shawaryn said. “I’m composed in between the lines but after I step off the mound on those big plays, you can let a little emotion go."
The Terp freshman allowed only one run on five hits over seven and one-third innings in front of 4,800 fans at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee. He is now 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA, having beaten two nationally ranked teams in his first month of college baseball.
- Terps Senior Kyle Convissar
Photo: John Vittas
“Shawaryn is extremely mature for his age and that’s why he’s had so much success,” Terps senior Kyle Convissar said. “He trusts his stuff and he knows what he’s capable of doing. He attacks the zone and he has a plan. It takes a special kind of guy to do that and I think he’s a special kind of guy.”
Convissar rocketed a two-run home run to left off Seminoles' starter Brandon Leibrandt in the fifth inning, giving Maryland that 3-0 lead.
“I got into a good count, 3-and-1 and I took advantage of it,” Convissar said. “Any time you hit a ball over the fence, it’s a one-of-a-kind feeling. I’m just happy to contribute back to the team.”
Maryland began the scoring early. Charlie White scored on Brandon Lowe’s RBI groundout in the first after Leibrandt fielded White’s bunt and threw it down the right field line to begin the afternoon. The score remained 1-0 until Convissar’s homer in the fifth. After Shawaryn’s dramatic double play, LaMonte Wade delivered a two-run double in the eighth, scoring Lowe and Michael Montville. Montville doubled down the line to begin the inning.
Alex Robinson got Maryland out of a jam in the eighth and Kevin Mooney struck out the side in the ninth to cap the big 5-1 win.
“It’s a great feeling," Shawaryn said. "As a team, this is a big win for us and the program. Just to come out here after the loss last night and dominate, it’s very special.”
Maryland (9-3, 1-1) is looking for its third consecutive winning season for the first time in 41 years, and has won nine of their first twelve to begin the year. The Terps earned votes in two of the four major polls earlier this week. A win against No. 2 Florida State again Sunday should put them into the top-25 for the first time in two years.
“Any time you can win at a place like this, it’s a big deal,” Convissar said. “But I think the fact that we played well today and with a lot of guys contributing, I think it shows that we have a pretty mature team. We have some momentum going into tomorrow.”
Jared Price (1-1, 5.27) will face off with FSU's Mike Compton (1-0, 2.70) in Sunday's rubber game. Coverage begins at 10:35 a.m. live from Tallahassee. You can hear the action by clicking here.
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