Connor Staine, one of Maryland baseball’s young relievers to take the mound late, worked himself into a jam in the top of the eighth. With two runners on and two outs, the dangerous Boston Merila dug into the box with a chance to tie the game up at five.
Staine threw two quick balls, prompting a visit from pitching coach Corey Muscara. On the precipice of disaster, Staine responded with confidence; the sophomore fired three consecutive strikes, retiring Merila on an overpowering fastball up in the zone. He spun around to his fielders, clenched his fists and yelled in excitement, holding the Gophers scoreless with one inning to go.