The Terps scored a total of two runs across the final two games.
Maryland baseball’s season has been highlighted by high-scoring games, but that was not the case at Washington.
After scoring just four runs in the loss on Friday, the Terps combined to score two runs over the next two games — winning Saturday’s game, while dropping Sunday’s matchup — as the Terps failed to get their first series win of the season.
Game one
Saturday night’s matchup between Maryland and Washington offered a classic pitchers’ duel, as both teams combined for just 10 hits.
The Terps’ pitching and offense was slightly better, though, as they defeated the Huskies, 2-1, to even the series.
Both teams only used two arms in the match. Senior Jackson Thomas made the start for the Huskies, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Junior Isaac Yeager entered in relief, pitching four innings and allowing one earned run on just two hits.
Despite the excellent performances from Washington’s pitchers, Maryland’s arms were better. Freshman Logan Hastings made his fourth start of the season and delivered his best performance yet. He pitched 7.2 innings and allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out six batters.
“Everything felt good,” Hastings said. “All the pitches back, the velo felt like it was back. Me and [ptiching coach Jimmy Jackson] worked on a lot of stuff throughout the week to get back right, and I think it worked.”
Sophomore Joey McMannis recorded the final four outs in his new bullpen role, allowing only one hit to earn his second save this season.
“It’s really good to see him in a tough spot … and just to come in there and attack and a big strikeout at the end,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Really happy for him and hopeful it can be something that fuels him for the rest of the season.
The fourth inning saw most of the game’s offense, as both teams scored a run. Sophomore first baseman Hollis Porter put the first run on the board with his solo home run to left field. Then, redshirt sophomore catcher Colton Bower answered with a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing in senior AJ Guerrero after his double to tie the game.
That was it for the Huskies on offense, though, as they scored no runs in the final five innings. Maryland’s offense did just enough, scoring just one more run in the seventh inning, courtesy of a Chris Hacopian RBI double.
“It’s huge guys know they don’t have to put up 10 runs every game,” Hastings said. “It helped also save our bullpen. Got a lot of our guys ready to go tomorrow. I think that takes a lot of stress off everybody to know that.”
Game two
Sunday’s game followed a similar trend, as neither team produced much offense in Washington’s 2-0 win.
Maryland’s offense could not get anything going, but gave itself a chance in the ninth inning.
The Terps had no runners on base with two outs, and the contest looked to be over. But back-to-back singles by senior Jacob Orr and sophomore Aden Hill put a runner on third base for the first time in the game. However, Elijah Lambros could not drive them in, grounding out to the pitcher to end another disappointing series.
Maryland recorded six hits compared to Washington’s three. However, the Terps failed to drive runners in, as Hill’s ninth-inning hit was the only one with runners on base.
Freshman Jake Yeager produced another quality start, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing just two runs on three hits — but it wasn’t enough. After allowing his first run in the third inning, he got into a jam in the fifth, hitting the leadoff batter while walking two more Huskies to bring in another run and end his day.
Freshman Justin Tims had struggled coming into Sunday’s start for Washington, pitching a 9.00 ERA in five appearances. Tims finally found some success, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing only three hits, while striking out five Maryland batters.
The Huskies were just as good in relief, as redshirt senior Josh Emanuels pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and prevented a ninth-inning rally to earn his third save of the season.
Maryland’s offense showed its first sign of life in the sixth inning, putting its first run in scoring position after a Chris Hacopian single. This was followed by an Alex Calarco walk, which ended Tims’s day. Emanuels proceeded to strike out Eddie Hacopian to escape the jam.
Freshman Cristofer Cespedes came up huge again out of the Terps bullpen. He retired the first eight batters he faced, finishing the day with 3.1 innings pitched and allowing no hits on four strikeouts.
The pitching wasn’t enough, though, as the Terps failed to capitalize on a great game from their freshmen arms. They fell to 11-12 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play.
Three things to know
1. Offense disappeared. Maryland’s offense has been consistent all season but combined to score only six runs in the weekend series against Washington — including being shutout for the first time this season in Sunday’s loss.
2. Couldn’t take advantage. The Terps’ pitching staff put together its best two-game stretch of the season against the Huskies, allowing just three total runs. Still, they couldn’t find a way to win both games.
3. Freshmen pitchers shined. Hastings, Yeager and Cespedes pitched well on Saturday and Sunday, allowing three combined runs.