The Terps head to the Carolinas for the second consecutive weekend.
After its home opener was postponed due to cold weather, Maryland baseball makes another trip south to take on Western Carolina in its first weekend series.
“Everybody’s dealing with it on the Northeast,” head coach Matt Swope said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in Maryland or North Carolina … it is what it is.”
Maryland went 2-1 in its opening weekend at the Swig and Swine College Classic — beating UAB, 6-3, in its season opener, then falling to Ball State, 5-3, in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, before dismantling Mercyhurst, 19-1, later that night.
Friday’s game will begin at 4 p.m., Saturday’s game will start at 2 p.m. and the Terps will finish the trip at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All games will stream on ESPN+.
Western Carolina Catamounts (1-3, 0-0 Southern Conference)
2024 record: 28-26, 13-8 SoCon
Western Carolina’s season began in stark contrast to its opening four games last season. After sweeping Iona in its first series of 2024, they dropped the midweek to USC Upstate.
Georgia Southern swept the Catamounts in their opening series this year, but they responded with a midweek victory over USC Upstate on Tuesday.
With its top three hitters from last season — Zach Ketterman (.360), Nate Stocum (.333) and Drew Needham (.306) — no longer on the team, the Catamounts are looking for new faces to step up this season.
Hitters to watch
Trent Turner, senior shortstop, No. 5 — Despite struggling in his first four games with a .176 batting average, the Catamounts’ captain is their best returning hitter. Last season, Turner started every game for the Catamounts, batting .302 and driving in 45 RBIs with a .830 OPS.
Brayden Corn, junior outfielder, No. 21 — The USC Union transfer picked up right where he left off at his previous school, batting .375 in the team’s first four games and knocking in three RBIs so far. He also leads the team with six hits.
Pitchers to watch
Dusty Revis, junior right-handed pitcher, No. 36 — Revis was named to the preseason All-Southern Conference team and was named SoCon preseason Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game and D1Baseball. In this first start, though, Revis got through just four innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits.
Mason Hilton, senior right-handed pitcher, No. 4 — Along with playing third base and providing offense, Hilton made his first start as a pitcher last Saturday, going four innings and allowing three earned runs on two hits and four walks.
Hilton serves as a two-way player for the Catamounts. As the team’s starting third baseman last season, Hilton batted .300 with 20 extra-base hits and 40 RBIs.
Strength
Freshmen. Through the season’s first four games, freshmen Jaylen Jones (.500) and Trey Spees (.400) lead the team in batting average with a combined eight hits between the two. Jones also leads the team with six RBIs.
Weakness
Pitching. The Catamounts have given up at least five runs in every game so far this season, including double-digit runs twice. They boast a 7.9 ERA.
Three things to watch
1. Starting pitching. “I think all the starters did a good job,” Maryland head coach Matt Swope said of his team’s starting pitching last weekend. In the Terps three games, starters Kyle McCoy, Joey McMannis, and Jack Wren only gave up four runs.
2. Alex Calarco’s hot start. Calarco, a senior catcher, hit three home runs last weekend —including two against Mercyhurst — while driving in 8 RBIs.
3. Transfer struggles. Three transfers started all three games for the Terps, with only Hollis Porter recording a hit. Aden Hill and Liam Willson are a combined 0-21.