The Terps take on two teams in the middle of the week.
Maryland baseball gears up for a challenging midweek slate. On Tuesday, the Terps will face No. 23 Virginia in Fredericksburg, Virginia, before hosting Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday.
The Terps are coming off their first Big Ten series of the season, dropping it, 2-1, to UCLA at home.
Tuesday’s game will start at 5:35 p.m. and stream on ACCNX, while Wednesday’s game will begin at 4 p.m. and stream on Big Ten Plus.
No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers (9-5, 1-2 ACC)
2024 Record: 46-17, 18-12 ACC
Head coach Brian O’Connor has built Virginia into one of the nation’s elite programs, winning its first national championship in 2015. He is a five-time ACC Coach of the Year and three-time national coach of the year.
The Cavaliers have been strong offensively this season, hitting .312 as a team. Virginia’s pitching staff has been split, holding a 3.52 ERA.
Hitters to watch
Henry Ford, sophomore infielder, No. 9 — Ford leads the team with a .397 average and 23 hits this season. Ford set a program freshman record with 17 home runs last season, but has yet to hit one this year.
Eric Becker, sophomore infielder, No. 21 — Becker is a versatile hitter batting .372 with two home runs and 12 RBIs. He hit .362 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs last year in route to an All-ACC freshman team nod.
Chris Arroyo, junior utility player, No. 23 — Arroyo has become the Caveliers’ biggest power threat, leading the team with 18 RBIs and five home runs. He transferred from Pasco-Hernando State College, a junior college, in the offseason.
Pitchers to watch
Evan Blanco, junior left-handed pitcher, No. 15 — Blanco started for Virginia last Tuesday against William & Mary and could do the same against the Terps. He pitched 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and an earned run a week ago.
Alex Markus, graduate right-handed pitcher, No. 36 — Markus is one of the Cavaliers best arms out of the bullpen. Across three appearances and two innings pitched, Markus holds a perfect ERA with five strikeouts.
Mount St. Mary’s (7-7, 1-2 Northeast Conference)
2024 Record: 22-34-1, 13-11 NEC
Head coach Frank Leoni is in his fourth year at the helm of the program. Across his 30-plus years in both Division I and Division III coaching, he has been named conference coach of the year seven times. He led the Mountaineers to the 2024 conference championship game.
The Mountaineers have played well on the road (5-2) but have struggled at home (2-3). Their offense has been productive, hitting .281 as a team. However, their pitching staff has a 7.09 ERA, which could allow Maryland to capitalize offensively.
Hitters to watch
Ty Fredo, sophomore infielder, No. 5 — Fredo leads the team with a .407 batting average, 22 hits and 18 runs. Fredo had a season-high four hits and two stolen bases against Sacred Heart last weekend. As a freshman, he hit for a .309 average with four home runs.
Evan Meier, sophomore outfielder, No. 1 — Meier has hit .362 with six doubles and five stolen bases this season. He scored three runs against Maryland Eastern Shore and had a season-high two hits against Indiana. Meier recorded a home run and 17 RBIs his freshman season.
Mateo Zeppieri, senior outfielder, No. 8 — Zeppieri poses a strong threat with a .225 batting average and 16 RBIs. He has also blasted a team-high six home runs this year.
Pitchers to watch
Ryan Brown, freshman right-handed pitcher, No. 40 — Brown earned the win in Mount St. Mary’s lone midweek game against UMES, throwing three innings and recording three strikeouts. He allowed just one hit.
Jakob Foster, sophomore right-handed pitcher, No. 14 — Foster threw for three innings in the Mountaineers’ victory over UMES, but he allowed all five runs in the game to go with three strikeouts. Foster competed largely in midweek games as a freshman too.
Three things to watch
1. Virginia’s pitching poses a challenge. The Terps will need to stay patient at the plate against one of the better pitching groups they’ve faced this season. The Cavaliers boast a 3.52 ERA.
2. Opportunities against Mount St. Mary’s pitchers. Unlike Virginia, the Mountaineers struggle on the mound with a 7.09 ERA. If Mount St. Mary’s is not careful, the Terps could hang 15 runs on it.
3. Midweek momentum. Winning these two outings would be a massive boost for the Terps before they head to Tampa, Florida, to take on USF. Coming off a disappointing weekend, a ranked win over Virginia would also improve Maryland’s résumé.