The Terps have lost four of their last five games.
Maryland baseball trailed Illinois, 5-1, Saturday, before it scored three runs in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to one. The Terps desperately looking for a win after a midweek loss to UMBC Tuesday.
However, Illinois added two insurance runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. Maryland’s comeback attempt ultimately fell short, dropping the weekend series opener, 7-4.
With the loss, the Terps now sit at 14-16 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
Both starters struggled with their command, issuing eight combined free bases with walks and hit-by pitches, but Illinois’ (15-11, 4-5 Big Ten) offense took advantage of the pitching struggles.
Maryland’s top starter, redshirt sophomore Kyle McCoy, started on the mound after Friday’s game was postponed. Illinois did damage in the first inning, using two hits and a walk to take an early 2-0 lead.
McCoy eventually found his groove, pitching three innings of scoreless baseball, but the fifth inning was much like the first. Illinois took advantage of defensive miscues — an error and two passed balls — to score two more runs and extend its lead.
Illinois junior starter Tyler Schmitt made the start for the Fighting Illini. It was an interesting start, as he went 5.2 innings and allowed six hits and five walks, but only surrendered one Maryland run.
The Terps put multiple runners on in four of the first five innings, but couldn’t take advantage. Its best chance came in the fourth inning, after Elijah Lambros avoided the tag on a short infield single to put the first run on the board.
Eddie Hacopian then stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, but he grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Senior Andrew Johnson’s name was called out of the bullpen in the fifth inning after McCoy failed to record an out. Johnson did his job, retiring the three batters he faced to end the inning.
The sixth inning wasn’t as smooth, though, as Johnson loaded the bases with just one out. This brought up Illinois leadoff man Greg LaChance. He fouled off several pitches in a row with two strikes before working a walk to extend the Fighting Illini lead to 5-1.
Maryland’s offense finally delivered in the seventh inning, as Alex Calarco and Chris Hacopian both reached base with just one out. This brought up last week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, Hollis Porter. However, he failed to reach base again, ending the day 0-of-5 from the plate.
Senior Jacob Orr delivered with a two-out triple to left field, scoring both runners to cut the deficit. Aden Hill walked to put runners on the corners, but a passed ball against Parker Corbin brought Orr in to score to get within one run.
Illinois issued another walk to Corbin, while Hill advanced to third on a wild pitch, putting runners on the corners once again. Junior Reed Gannon continued to struggle with his command, walking Lambros to load the bases and giving the Terps a chance to tie with the top of the order due up.
But when Zach Bates entered the game for Gannon, he forced a groundout to escape the jam and keep Illinois ahead, 5-4.
Eddie Hacopian’s throwing error put the leadoff man on base for Illinois in the seventh inning, but Jack Wren responded with three straight outs. Still, Maryland went down in order in the eighth inning. Wren worked into a jam in the eighth inning, issuing two walks and two hits, including a two-run double to extend the Illinois lead to three.
With its final chance in the top of the ninth inning, the Terps went down in order.
Three things to know
1. Nothing is going right. Maryland’s loss to UMBC on Tuesday was a low point for the program, and it failed to respond against Illinois, now dropping four of its last five games.
2. Missed opportunities. Maryland had multiple chances to take the lead with multiple runners on base. Its two best hitters were due up in the eighth inning, but it failed to take advantage of these chances.
3. Defensive struggles. Calarco struggled behind the plate, allowing seven passed balls, while the Terps committed two errors on the day.