Maryland baseball travels to Illinois for a three-game series

(Photograph Courtesy of Maryland Athletics)

Maryland (19-13 Big) seeks to extend its half dozen-game win streak confronting Illinois (15-xvi Big) for a iii-game series in Champaign, Ill.

With a successful showing, Maryland can pull closer to the top of the Large Ten. Then far this season, the Terps are below .500 on the road (eight-ten) and will look to improve that this weekend.

"If you want to play in the postseason, you have to win games on the road," head coach Rob Vaughn said. "Y'all have to beat good teams on the road."

The pitching matchups volition see Nick Dean (2-0, 3.51) versus Andre Hoffman (1-0, 3.96 ERA) in Game 1. Followed by Jason Savacool (5-1, 5.33 ERA) against Nate Lavender (five-1, iv.46 ERA) in Game two. Closing the series will be Sean Shush (ii-3, iv.24 ERA) versus Riley Gowens (i-2, 5.14 ERA) in Game three.

Maryland pitching enters the series ranked seventh in the Large Ten with a 5.12 ERA and will look to slow downwards an Illinois lineup that'southward starting time in the Big Ten in batting average (.284).

"There are a few guys we talked about," reliever David Falco said. "Their 1-three hitters are all good hitters. We take to practice what we do best and sticking with what works."

Starting time baseman Justin Janas and shortstop Branden Comia are two of the Illini's most explosive bats with a .364 and .361 average respectively. Third baseman Jackson Raper is the team leader in homers (9), RBI (36), slugging (.679), and OPS (1.116).

Maryland counters with an offense that tin score runs in bunches. Once on base, Maryland is second in stolen bases (44), third in dwelling house runs (44), and tied for fourth in runs (209). The Terps will expect to exploit the Illini pitching staff who've struggled this season with a seven.27 ERA, which is terminal in the Large Ten.

The Maryland offense starts and stops with heart fielder Chris Alleyne. Alleyne is the ignition to the lineup, getting on base at a .417 prune and leads the Big Ten in stolen bases (18). However, shortstop Ben Cowles has been putting up unworldly offensive numbers all season. Cowles leads the Big Ten in homers (thirteen), second in RBI (39), and slugging (.718).

Offset baseman Maxwell Costes has served as a perfect complement to Alleyne and Cowles with a .487 on base percent, although his ability numbers have dipped slightly.

"[Costes] didn't play last spring, he didn't play this summer, he wasn't with us this fall," Vaughn said. "He has only had about 120 at-bats this bound. Over two years, that is not a lot of at-bats. I am starting to see him go more comfortable in the box."

The key to victory for Maryland is non to give Illinois any extra outs. The Terps have improved defensively, now up to eighth in fielding per centum (.965), allowing 26 unearned runs on the season. Maryland's lineup has come live in the later on innings this season combining for 71 runs in the sixth and seventh innings, 34 percentage of the team's runs this season. The Terps are 16-1 when leading after six innings.

Game ane is Friday at seven p.yard., Followed by Game 2 on Saturday at 5 p.m., and Game 3 will be broadcasted nationally on the Large Ten Network on Sunday at noon.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/maryland-baseball-travels-to-illinois-for-a-three-game-series/

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