The Terps could not replicate their success from Saturday’s doubleheader.
While Saturday’s game between Maryland baseball and No. 12 Wake Forest was a firework show, Sunday’s game was a battle between starting pitchers.
But despite a strong start from freshman Logan Hastings, the Terps’ offense struggled for perhaps the first time this season. An eight-run surge in the final innings ultimately led Maryland to fall, 9-1, in the series finale Sunday at Winston-Salem.
After a great performance out of the bullpen against Delaware, Hastings started for the Terps. He did not disappoint, pitching five innings and allowing an unearned run on three hits. He also struck out seven Demon Deacons.
Hastings worked around trouble early, allowing multiple baserunners in the first three innings, but kept Wake Forest off the board. In the second inning, the Demon Deacons put three runners on with two singles and a walk, but Hastings escaped the pressure with a strikeout. In the third inning, Wake Forest threatened the Terps again after a walk and wild pitch moved a runner into scoring position, but it stranded two more.
Maryland’s offense struggled against Wake Forest’s starter Blake Morningstar, failing to render a base runner in the first three innings.
The Terps got their best chance against Morningstar in the fourth innging, when Bobby Martin led off with a bunt single. After a fielder’s choice, Alex Calarco singled and Eddie Hacopian stole third. But Morningstar struck out Hollis Porter and Michael Iannazzo consecutively, neutralizing the threat.
Morningstar pitched six innings, allowing no runs and three hits while striking out seven batters.
Wake Forest opened the scoring in the fifth inning. With two outs, sophomore Kade Lewis singled through the right side, scoring Jack Winnay, who had walked earlier in the inning and stole second base.
The Terps finally got on the board in the seventh inning, when Morningstar was replaced by sophomore Nate Brittain. He walked Iannazzo and Aden Hill on nine pitches. Luke Schmolke entered the game in relief, but Jacob Orr loaded the bases with a perfect bunt.
Freshman Colin Gibbs then grounded out to first, bringing in Hill to tie the game at 1-1.
The score was not tied for long, though. After pitching a strong sixth inning, graduate Jack Wren ran out of gas. He put the first two batters on base before allowing a home run to former Marist teammate Ethan Conrad. Another out-of-the-park blast came from the next batter, as Winnay drove it over the short right-field wall.
This wasn’t it for the Demon Deacons. Freshman Dalton Wentz tagged Cristofer Cespedes for another run to extend the lead to 6-1.
Maryland’s offense could not answer, going down in succession in the bottom half of the inning. Then, Wake Forest added some insurance runs. Winnay knocked his second home run of the game, this time a three-run shot to expand the lead to 9-1 — a deficit the Terps could not overcome.
Maryland finished with just four hits — Martin, Calarco, Hacopian and Orr each recorded one. Wake Forest totaled nine runs on 10 hits.
Wren took the loss, giving up five runs in one inning. Schmolke earned the win for Wake Forest, allowing no runs and throwing five strikeouts in three innings.
The Terps failed to respond in the final two innings, dropping the last game of the series after winning Saturday’s contest, 9-8. The Terps will look to bounce back in their next matchup against James Madison on Wednesday.
Three things to know
1. Hastings’s strong start. Hastings continued his impressive start to the season, allowing one unearned run over five innings while striking out seven. His ability to escape early pressures kept Maryland in the game before Wake Forest’s late offensive surge.
2. Offensive struggles. Maryland’s offense managed only four hits and one run in the game after averaging 12.5 runs per game through the first 10 outings of the season. The Terps’ best chance came in the seventh inning, but they failed to capitalize, stranding multiple runners.
3. A successful weekend. Maryland finished its weekend series with a 3-1 record, securing 17-1 and 10-7 victories over Princeton, and one-run win over Wake Forest Saturday.