Maryland baseball’s breakout season continues with hosting NCAA Tournament regional

The NCAA Baseball Tournament is headed to Shipley Field at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium in College Park, MD for the first time ever.

Maryland baseball was selected as the No. 15 seed and a hosting site for the opening round June 3-6, the NCAA announced. The College Park regional also includes UConn, Wake Forest and Long Island. The winner of the double-elimination bracket advances to face the winner of the Stanford regional, led by the No. 2 overall seeded Cardinal.

The Terps (45-12) won their first Big Ten regular-season title and first conference title in 51 years this season, thanks to a program-record 44 regular-season victories. Ten Terps were named to All-Big Ten teams, while outfielder Chris Alleyne was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Rob Vaugh was tabbed Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Maryland finished conference championship weekend at No. 9 in live RPI, according to the WarrenNolan live tracker, after going 1-2 during the Big Ten Tournament. Wake Forest finished the season No. 6 in RPI, while UConn was No. 43. Maryland teased the addition of bleachers beyond left-centerfield last week in anticipation of having its bid to host accepted. Vaughn spoke about the importance of the athletic department’s decision to potentially add seating, lights and make other changes in order to host on campus.

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“Our [Athletic Director], Damon Evans, has been incredibly supportive in this and he’s not naive to the fact that that facility needs some work,” Vaughn told SiriusXM. “I’m incredibly thankful for our administration because it would be very easy for them to punt and just say ‘We can’t do this,’ you know, and ‘You guys can go on the road,’ but they knew how important it was for us. They knew it gave our team an advantage and that for a team that’s got a chance to host a regional potentially for the first time in school history, they didn’t for our kids.

Most Regular Season Wins ?
Most Wins ?
First Big Ten Title ?
First conference title in 51 years ?
First Regional in College Park ?

Pack the Bob this weekend. pic.twitter.com/knQZJGEHnF

— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) May 30, 2022

“They weren’t willing to punt that and that’s something that I’m incredibly grateful for. And I’m thankful for them and the financial investment that they’re putting into it as well as just their willingness to step out and get into this thing with us.”

Maryland’s tournament run begins Friday as the Terps face Long Island in their first game as host. Wake Forest will face UConn Friday as well with winners and losers facing each other in the second set of games.