The Terps play four games this weekend.
After setting a program record 35 runs in a single game last weekend, Maryland baseball heads to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face Princeton Friday at noon and Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and No. 12 Wake Forest Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Maryland’s contests against Princeton can be heard on the Maryland Baseball Network radio, and its games against Wake Forest will stream on ACCNX.
Princeton Tigers (0-4, 0-0 Ivy League)
2024 record: 18-26, 12-9 Ivy League
Princeton is led by head coach Scott Bradley enters the weekend winless after being swept in four games by Miami. The Tigers struggled at the plate, hitting just .085 as a team with five runs, while allowing 36 runs. Junior Jake Bold leads the offense with a .250 batting average, one home run and three RBIs. Junior right-hand pitcher Sean Episcope leads the squad with a 3.60 ERA and six strikeouts, providing a valuable spot in the rotation.
Princeton will look to rebound against Maryland, a team that has already faced solid competition early in the season. The Terps’ pitching staff will aim to take advantage of the Tigers’ early struggles.
Hitters to watch
Jake Bold, junior infielder, No. 19 — Bold leads the Tigers with a .250 batting average, three hits, three RBIs and a home run. Last season, Bold totaled a .295 batting average, 19 RBIs and four home runs.
Jake Koonin, junior infielder, No. 3 — A 2024 All-Ivey League second-team selection, Koonin struggled last weekend, recording a .133 batting average with a triple and hit-by-pitch. Last year, Koonin posted a .319 average with four home runs and 41 RBIs.
Pitchers to watch
Sean Episcope, sophomore right-hander, No. 28 — Episcope has been the Tigers’ most reliable starting pitcher this season, posting a 3.60 ERA and six strikeouts through five innings over the weekend.
Jacob Faulkner, senior right-hander, No. 51 — Faulkner is an elite option out of the bullpen for the Tigers, pitching five innings without surrendering a run last weekend. In 2024, he was a unanimous All-Ivey League first-team selection with a 3.14 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 66 innings.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-1, 0-0 ACC)
2024 record: 38-22, 15-15 ACC
Maryland concludes the weekend with a highly anticipated matchup against No. 12 Wake Forest — a team with one of the most powerful lineups in the country. The Demon Deacons, led by head coach Tom Walter, enter the match with an 8-1 record and will test Maryland’s pitching depth.
Wake Forest’s lineup has been explosive, averaging 11 runs per game. Marek Houston leads the team with a .459 batting average, five home runs and 20 RBIs. Kade Lewis, who owns a .464 batting average, and Ethan Conrad, who bats .364, have also been key contributions, combining for 24 RBIs.
Hitters to watch
Kade Lewis, sophomore infielder, No. 6 — Lewis leads the team with a .464 batting average, while contributing nine RBIs and two home runs. Lewis earned Big East Freshman of the Year last season at Butler.
Marek Houston, junior infielder, No. 7 — Houston has been vital in Wake Forest’s offense, leading the team with 17 hits, five home runs , 20 RBIs and 15 runs on a .459 batting average. Houston was an All-ACC third-team selection last season after posting .326 batting average on 39 RBIs and eight home runs.
Pitchers to watch
Logan Lunceford, junior right-hander, No. 48 — Lunceford has yet to allow a run with 20 strikeouts across two starts and 9.1 innings this season. Lunceford transferred from Missouri in the offseason.
Matthew Dallas, sophomore left-hander, No. 10 — Dallas recorded 13 strikeouts and did not allow a run in his two starts this season. Dallas spent his freshman season at Tennessee.
Three things to watch
1. A tough test. Wake Forest presents one of the biggest challenges Maryland will face this season, boasting a balanced lineup and strong pitching. Saturday and Sunday could be a good indicator as to how the rest of the season will play out.
2. Offensive firepower. Maryland has scored 89 runs in its first seven games, inflated by its 35-run performance last Saturday.
3. Princeton looking for a win. The Tigers failed to win a game in its opening weekend, but a flawed Maryland squad presents an opportunity to pick up their first.