Baseball's pitching up to speed even after loss of Harman

The Terrapin baseball team's pitching staff was behind the eight ball even before the season started.

Last year's No. 1 pitcher Brett Harman, who was on the mound for all but one of the Terps' five ACC victories last season, was lost for the season after Tommy John surgery in November. But even in the absence of their ace, the Terps enter their weekend series against Army having had early success from their starting pitching.

"Obviously, he was the best pitcher last year; it sucks having him go out," starting pitcher Michael Boyden said. "But every team deals with adversity. Yeah, some people are going to have to step up. It's a chance for those younger guys, newcomers. But I don't think it's anything that we can't deal with."

So far, the Terps (2-3) have dealt well with the loss of Harman. Through the first five games of the season, Terp starting pitchers have allowed only 12 runs in 21 innings. Subtract freshman Brady Kirkpatrick's start from the equation (six runs, zero innings pitched) in the Terps' 16-0 loss to the No. 7 Longhorns in last weekend's series finale, and that total drops to six runs.

"We've only had one non-quality start of the five games," coach Erik Bakich said. "Very pleased with our starting pitching. If we can get quality starts like that, that's what you need to win a lot of games."

Right-hander Michael Boyden went four strong innings in a Wednesday victory over Navy, allowing only one run on four hits while fanning four. The quality start came after a rough relief appearance in the first game of the season.

"The first time I didn't think I did that bad," said Boyden, who allowed two earned runs in less than an inning pitched in the Terps' 8-0 Feb. 18 loss to Texas. "But I just knew I want to come out, throw strikes and give us a chance to win. This being our first home game, I knew it was pretty important, I'm pretty happy about that."

Even while the Terps acknowledged that Harman would be hard to replace, Bakich was confident heading into the season that the starters behind him would be able to pick up the slack.

So far, they have.

"I know people are concerned that Brett Harman isn't going to be with us this year," Bakich said last week before the Terps traveled to Austin, Texas. "But we've got some pretty darn good new pitchers on this team, plus with what Sander Beck and Eric Potter bring to the table from an experience standpoint, even though they didn't have great years last year, that's invaluable, the experience that they bring to a ballclub. And they are both much, much improved."

With 12 new pitchers added to the staff this season, the rotation has yet to be finalized as David Carroll, Beck, Potter, Kirkpatrick and Boyden fight for spots. Beck is expected to draw the start in this afternoon's series opener against the Black Knights (1-3).

And as Terp pitching continues to find success, it has given the team confidence in the batter's box as well.

"I think our pitching can compete with anyone out there," second baseman Ryan Holland said. "It takes stress off the hitting and the offensive side of it because I think our defense can play with anybody, and our pitching is pretty outstanding. ... It's great. Any day of the weekend we can go out there and it's going to be a battle."

schneider@umdbk.com