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Snyder still a good-luck charm as WVU dominates Terps, 8-1

COLLEGE PARK, Md.  — West Virginia feels awfully confident when left-hander Nick Snyder is pitching.

The 6-foot-7 junior tossed five solid innings and the Mountaineers downed Maryland 8-1 on Wednesday night, improving to 7-0 when Snyder starts.

“Snyder was Snyder. He was really good again, and he’s given us a really good chance to win every game in the middle of the week,” West Virginia coach Randy Mazey said. “If you’re going to have a great season, you have to win these midweek games.”

The Mountaineers (20-12) stranded 15 baserunners, but won comfortably after taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Terps starter Nick Turnbull (2-1), who recorded only one out while yielding three walks, a hit batter and a single to Darius Hill.

That was plenty for Snyder (5-1), who became the eighth consecutive West Virginia starter to work at least five innings. He gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

WVU held Maryland (16-16) to five hits, rotating five relievers over the final four innings. The Terms had scored 16 runs a day earlier against William & Mary.

Paul McIntosh had two hits and an RBI grounder. Tyler Doanes hit a leadoff homer in the fifth — his third of the season — and pinch-hitter Andrew Zitel launched a two-run shot in the eighth.

West Virginia, which drew 12 walks overall, improved to 11-11 in road games. After winning six of their last seven, The Mountaineers’ RPI stood at 18 late Wednesday.