The Terps allowed double-digit runs for the seventh time this year.
Maryland baseball opened its first game of the weekend at Washington with two runs in the first inning, looking to ride its stellar offense to victory.
However, the Terps pitching crumbled and their offense folded, falling to the Huskies, 12-4, Friday night in Seattle.
Washington (10-13, 3-1 Big Ten) outscored Maryland (11-11, 1-3 Big Ten) 12-2 after the top of the first, as Maryland’s pitching and defense struggled once again.
“We just got to be tougher,” head coach Matt Swope said. “After the first inning scoring a couple of runs, we gotta have better at-bats as the game goes.”
Senior third baseman Eddie Hacopian led off for the second straight game, and it looked like it would work again. Maryland’s first four runners reached base, and the first run scored on a hit-by-pitch. Senior Jacob Orr’s ground out to second, tacked on the second run of the inning.
Redshirt sophomore Kyle McCoy then took the mound for his sixth start of the season. McCoy got into some trouble in the first after recording the first out. The next two Huskies batters reached base before Malakhi Knight‘s single drove in Washington’s first run.
Despite not allowing a hit in the third inning, the Terps’ defensive struggles continued. They committed two errors and allowed Washington to tie the game.
“We’re bad on defense. It’s as simple as that,” Swope said. “I told them after the game, and it’s been a continuous theme that you can’t win games, especially on Friday’s, against a really good pitcher and play poor defense.”
As Maryland’s offense slowed down, the Huskies added four more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to end McCoy’s day and take a 6-2 lead.
Orr finally delivered for Maryland’s offense, bringing in Alex Calarco from second base on a double to left field to cut the deficit to 6-3. This was the closest the Terps would get, as Washington’s five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning put the game out of reach.
Sixth-year pitcher Logan Koester entered the game for his third appearance out of the bullpen, but he recorded an out and three walks. This brought in senior Ryan Van Buren, but he couldn’t escape the jam with no damage, walking the first batter he faced. He then allowed a two-RBI single, which extended the Washington lead to 11-2.
Both teams’ leading power bats — Colton Bower for Washington and Calarco for Maryland — each added a solo home run in the final innings, as Washington’s bullpen prevented the Terps from any late-game heroics.
“We still have an opportunity to win a series,” Swope said. “That’s pretty much what you’re looking for in a winning week in college baseball.”
Three things to know
1. Defensive struggles. Maryland committed three errors in Friday’s loss, extending its total to 23 on the season.
2. Pitching remains an issue. Friday’s loss was the seventh game this season the Terps have allowed double-digit runs.
3. Calarco is a bright spot. Calarco has been incredible for the Terps this season despite their mediocre record. He tallied his 10th home run and 37th RBI of the season Friday — both top-10 marks in the nation.