Maryland’s season ends with a glimpse of what could have been.
As has been the case for Maryland baseball many times this season, the Terps spent their final game of the season facing a late deficit — multiple times.
And yet, unlike many games through the long spring season for Maryland, the Terps came back. Multiple times.
In a game filled with momentum swings, Maryland put up a dramatic late rally to defeat Rutgers, 13-11, Saturday afternoon at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
After Rutgers failed to convert with a runner in scoring position in the first inning, Maryland used the bottom half of the frame to get its offense going once again. Chris Hacopian launched a solo homer to right-center field, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead. Eddie Hacopian added a single and two stolen bases but was ultimately stranded at third.
Rutgers stormed back in the top of the second inning, capitalizing on a string of hits, walks and a costly wild pitch. RBIs from Matt Chatelle, J.T. Thompson, and R.J. Johnson Jr. helped the Scarlet Knights post four runs and put the Terps in an early hole.
While Maryland’s players could have easily flashed back to the other games of the series — which left the Terps on the outside of the playoffs looking in — they quickly responded to the early deficit. Elijah Lambros blasted a three-run homer to left-center field, scoring Aden Hill and Jacob Orr to tie the game.
Both bullpens tightened up in the middle innings. Maryland grounded into a double play in the third inning before its batters were retired in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. Rutgers managed just one hit of its own during that span.
In the sixth inning, the Terps found a breakthrough. Rutgers threatened in the top half with a double by Chatelle, but Logan Koester shut the door by forcing back-to-back outs. With the game still hanging in the balance, Alex Calarco hit his 19th homer of the year to give Maryland the lead.
Once again, though, Maryland was pegged back. Peyton Bonds launched a three-run moon shot in the top of the seventh inning to give the Scarlet Knights a 7-5 lead. But the Terps still responded. Chris Hacopian sliced a single through the left side to score Lambros. Eddie Hacopian followed with a three-run home run of his own, allowing Maryland to reclaim the lead.
Trailing 9-7 entering the eighth inning, Rutgers roared back. With two outs and a runner on first, Ty Doucette blasted a two-run homer to right-center field, tying the game at 9-9. Moments later, Bonds doubled to right field, driving in Trevor Cohen, who had reached on a single and stolen second. The Scarlet Knights had their first advantage since the second inning, and Maryland needed a response.
The Terps wasted no time flipping the script in a wild bottom half. Hill started the rally with a single, and Maryland loaded the bases after a walk and another single. Chris Hacopian stepped up to the plate — but the first pitch he saw smoked him, pushing a runner into home.
That wasn’t the end of Maryland’s scoring for the inning, even though it was the end of its hitting. Three more Maryland batters were walked. After an explosive inning of plate discipline and patience, Maryland suddenly held a 13-10 advantage.
Facing its final three outs, Rutgers showed a flicker of life. Yomar Carreras launched a solo home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 13-11. But Maryland reliever Andrew Koshy held firm, forcing two flyouts and a groundout to end the game, and Maryland’s season, with a victory.
Three things to know
1. End of the road. Maryland entered Sunday’s game knowing it would not be able to make the postseason. A dramatic victory will surely put a smile on the faces of some Maryland fans, but the Terps’ attention now turns to the long offseason ahead.
2. Clutch non-hitting. Maryland’s lineup came up big in the eighth inning, driving in key runs during the comeback rally. Eddie Hacopian, Orr and Paul Jones II all walked while taking just one swing at the 14 combined pitches they faced.
3. Series struggles continue. While Maryland pulled off an electric comeback win, the Terps only managed two wins in a weekend series throughout the season. If the Terps wish to stop their two-year postseason drought, they will have to figure out how to string together victories next season.