University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Maryland
Resilient Gophers Win Series Against Maryland
4/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score: Minnesota 6, Maryland 4 
Minnesota scored three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to key a 6-4 series-clinching win against Maryland on Sunday afternoon. The Gophers (21-11, 6-2 Big Ten) netted 10 hits from seven different sources to win their third-straight conference series.
At the plate, Toby Hanson, Dan Motl and Jordan Smith paced the offense with two hits apiece. Smith tallied a team-best two RBI, while Motl added one himself.
Toby Anderson got the start on the mound and went 6.0 innings with six hits, four earned runs and one strikeout. Lucas Gilbreath earned his second win of the weekend after 2.0 innings of relief work, striking out three and allowing just two hits. On the back end, Jordan Jess notched his fifth save of the season - and second of the weekend - after a clean ninth frame.
The Terrapins (19-17, 5-4) started fast by scoring four runs between the second and third stanzas. Maryland took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third behind a two-run homer to left field.
Both Anderson and Mike Shawaryn - Maryland's starting pitcher - settled into a groove as they sent down 21 of the next 22 batters, including 10 straight from Anderson.
Despite not having a bounce go its way for a majority of the contest, Minnesota stuck with its approach and found life in the home half of the seventh.
Hanson and Micah Coffey led off with back-to-back singles and the bases became loaded after Smith drew a walk. The very next batter, the Terrapins threw a wild pitch that scored one, but an error on the recovery throw from the pitcher was enough to plate a second run. Later on, with a full count and two outs, Motl blasted an RBI ground-rule double that scored Smith.
When all was said and done, Minnesota had cut the score to 4-3 and had six more outs to work.
After a clean eighth frame from Gilbreath, the Gophers had completely swung the momentum in their favor heading to the dish.
Austin Athmann was plunked and moved over to second on a Hanson single through the right side. The biggest play of the game came when what looked like a routine double play ball was hit to Maryland's shortstop, but he fumbled the ball and everyone was safe with the bases loaded and one out.
Minnesota took full advantage by scoring on a wild pitch that tied the game at 4-4. In the next at-bat, Smith laced a single up the middle that scored two and gave the Gophers their first lead of the afternoon at 6-4.
The Maroon and Gold took that lead into the ninth and called upon their closer Jess to shut the door in the ninth. The senior southpaw did just that and got the final out of the series-clinching win on a strikeout looking.
With the win, Minnesota completed its second comeback after trailing by at least three runs during the weekend and secured its third-straight Big Ten series to open league play.
The Gophers return to the diamond and conclude their six-game homestand with a non-conference contest against North Dakota State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Siebert Field.
