In perhaps the most crucial game of the season up to this point, Maryland took advantage of a monster fifth inning to defeat Indiana 13-2 in the first game of the series that could end up deciding the winner of the Big Ten on Friday night in Bloomington.

The fifth inning would be highlighted by a Bobby Zmarzlak two-run single and Kevin Keister one-run double, as a Luke Shliger sac fly would complete the seven-run inning for the Terps and give them a 10-1 lead after 4 1/2 innings play.

Matt Shaw gave the Terps the fast start that they needed with a home run to the deepest part of the ballpark in the top of the first. After a Nick Lorusso back-to-back shot to left and Eddie Hacopian sac fly, the Terps would have a 3-0 lead after just one inning.

Maryland was able to force Indiana starter Seti Manase out of the game after just one inning for reliever Brayden Risedorph.

Risedorph held Maryland scoreless in the second, and Nick Dean got into some trouble with a man on first and second jam with no outs but was able to close out the inning with two strikeouts and a line out.

The score stayed the same until the fourth inning when Indiana’s Carter Mathison hit a solo homer to make it a 3-1 game.

Maryland didn’t waste anytime responding to Indiana’s solo shot in the fourth, but as they sent 10 batters up to the plate, it was possible that Dean may have been bent out of shape by the long rest. But he responded with yet another gem of an inning as he collected three strikeouts to bring his tally to seven on the night.

Dean proved to be dominant for Maryland as he would give the Terps a two-run seven-inning gem, collecting a career-high 10 strikeouts on the night.

After three straight two-out walks by Indiana pitcher Nathan Ball, Maryland would gain a ten-run advantage on the Hoosiers as Zmarzlak scored on a wild pitch to make it an 11-1 game. Though, Indiana added a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, as Tyler Cerny hit a solo shot to make it an 11-2 game after seven innings.

Logan Ott came in to pitch the eighth inning for Maryland and he held the Hoosiers to yet another scoreless inning. Indiana was never able to gain much momentum as they only had seven hits on the night.

In the ninth Shaw would yet again show his power at the plate, as he hit a two-run double to make it a 13-2 game. Shaw had himself a night as he went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs at the plate.

Ott came back out to pitch the bottom of the ninth and shut down any far-flinging attempts at a Hoosier comeback to close out the game.

Maryland moves into a tie with the Hoosiers for first in the Big Ten after the win. They also break the Hoosiers’ eight-game win streak.

The Terps will try to take the series with a win tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET.