Brayden Ryan pitched all seven innings for the Terps.
It took just three batters for Maryland’s offense to take the lead against Towson Tuesday. A two-run shot from senior Eddie Hacopian provided the Terps with an advantage they never relinquished.
Maryland scored in five of the seven innings and hit three home runs to cruise to an 11-1 win over its in-state rival at Bob ‘Turtle’ Smith Stadium.
Senior Jacob Orr led the offense, going 4-of-4 and driving in three RBIs. He also hit his fifth home run of the year, as his stellar senior season continues.
“I come into every day doing the same thing,” Orr said. “I know I haven’t hit too many home runs until these last two weeks, but I’ve been trusting the process, trying to swing at good pitches.”
Following another poor Sunday from the pitching staff, redshirt sophomore Brayden Ryan delivered again in his starting midweek role. He pitched a complete seven innings, allowing just one run for the fourth consecutive outing on five hits and six strikeouts.
“It’s a huge help knowing I’m capable of doing that,” Ryan said. “I feel a lot more confident starting. It’s what I’m used to [but] I’m ready for whatever this team needs me to do.”
Junior left-handed pitcher Matt Lynch started for Towson (13-28, 5-10 Coastal Athletic Association). He lasted only two innings, though, surrendering three hits and two earned runs, while striking out four batters. The Tigers’ bullpen didn’t play much better, as the Terps (19-23, 5-13 Big Ten) recorded 13 hits from seven different players and scored on five of the Tigers’ six pitchers.
Eddie Hacopian put the Terps on the board in the first inning, while Chris Hacopian upped his brother with a three-run shot in the third inning. He thought the previous pitch was ball four, as he dropped his bat and took a few steps toward first base. But it was called a strike, and he proceeded to take out his anger on the ball, launching a homer to give the Terps a 5-0 lead.
“We’re gonna go as they go,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Eddie’s been more consistent, and Chris has a couple [homers] here recently, so we can try to form a run together.
While Ryan’s start looks great on paper, it wasn’t always easy. He allowed four hits through three innings before facing trouble in the fourth inning, walking two batters before freshman AJ Kolb delivered the Tigers’ first run on a single up the middle. He bounced back against the next batter, though, recording his third strikeout of the inning.
Orr knocked the Terps’ third homer of the day on a two-run shot in the fourth inning, extending the lead to 7-1. Alex Calarco looked to get in on the party, but was robbed of Maryland’s fourth home run to end the inning.
Maryland added two more runs in the fifth inning. Elijah Lambros drove in Liam Wilson from third on a ground out, before Orr took advantage of a dropped ball at third base to score another run.
The last of the Terps’ scoring came in the seventh inning. Lambros doubled to drive in the first run, and Brayden Martin singled to walk it off and invoke the mercy rule.
With the statement win, the Terps will look to use it as motivation for a postseason run.
“[I’ve] just been telling everyone, ‘It’s never over until you’re eliminated,’” Orr said. “As long as we have a fighting chance, I know we come into every weekend believing we can win, and I think we have a great opportunity coming up.”
Three things to know
1. Chris Hacopian’s power is back. After going more than a month without hitting a home run, the Terps’ top batter has tallied two in the last three games — his fifth and sixth of the season.
2. No bullpen needed. With Ryan pitching a complete game, Maryland’s bullpen will be completely fresh for its weekend series against Nebraska. The Terps still have yet to win a three-game series this year.
3. Complimentary baseball. The Terps have failed to put together many complementary games between the offense and defense this season, but they did so against the Tigers to end the game early.