Four-run sixth pushes Maryland past Bryant, 5-3, on Friday

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland used a four-run sixth inning to rally past the Bryant University baseball team, 5-3, on Friday afternoon at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.

The Bulldogs (8-3) led 3-0 after 4 1/2 innings but the Terrapins (6-7) scored once in the fifth and four times in the sixth to earn the victory. The Terps are now 4-0 all-time against the Black and Gold.

Trailing 3-0, Maryland plated its first run in the fifth inning. Justin Morris and Kevin Smith hit back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1 with one out in the inning. Madison Nickens and Nick Dunn then both drew walks to load the bases but Bryant starter James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) was able to escape further damage as Dan Cellucci (Sudbury, Mass.) dove up the middle to start an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The Terps, however, were unperturbed and came back in the sixth to take the lead for good with four runs on three hits. A walk and a hit batter opened the inning and Anthony Papio tied the game with a two-run double down the right field line. Nickens and Dunn then delivered back-to-back two-out RBI singles to give Maryland a 5-3 lead.

Bryant jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Friday with a single run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth. Matt Albanese (East Haddam, Conn.) doubled to open the fourth, moved to third on a fly out and scored on a sac fly from Brandon Bingel (Peabody, Mass.).

In the fifth, AJ Zarozny (Shrewsbury, Mass.) reached on an error and Zach Wood (Griswold, Conn.) walked to put the first two runners on. After a sac bunt, Joe Paparelli (Preston, Conn.) walked to load the bases with one out. Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) then walked to force in a run and Albanese followed with a sharp single to left to make it 3-0. Shawaryn escaped further damage as he got a strikeout and a pop up to leave the bases loaded.

Karinchak struggled in his fourth start of the season, allowing four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings to fall to 3-1. He walked a career-high six batters and struck out just two. Despite that, though, he was good early, keeping the Terrapins scoreless for the first four innings. Karinchak got help in the fourth as his defense turned a 8-3-2 double play to get out of a bases-loaded jam. Albanese caught a Papio fly ball in center, fired the ball into Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) who threw home to nab the runner. 

Justin Snyder (Georgetown, Mass.) and Michael Marshall (Maynard, Mass.) each pitched a 1 1/3 innings of relief to finish the game. Snyder allowed a run on three hits, while Marshall allowed just one hit and didn't allow a run.

Albanese finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Cellucci also added two hits, going 2-for-3.

Shawaryn earned the win for Maryland, improving to 2-1 with seven innings of three-run ball. He allowed four hits, walked five and struck out just two. Tayler Stiles recorded the final six outs to earn his first save. Marty Costes and Morris each had two hits, while Papio drove in two.

Bryant and Maryland continue their three-game series on Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.