The Terps stole the final game of the series.
It was a home run derby in College Park Sunday, as Maryland baseball and Northwestern each hit five. Alex Calarco and Hollis Porter both tallied two, while Eddie Hacopian notched one.
Maryland held a commanding 16-run lead after four innings, but Northwestern’s eight runs in the fifth inning gave it a chance.
The Wildcats never found consistency in the six arms it used, though, as the Terps mercy-ruled them, 22-11, in seven innings.
The Terps dropped the first two games of the weekend series, including an embarrassing 10-run mercy rule loss Saturday, but the offense regained its early season form Sunday.
“I was most proud of the way they answered,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Two really tough days to come out and score like that. I think it’s a testament regardless of the struggles this year, the guys are still playing hard.”
Maryland wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning, scoring four runs with two outs. Calarco’s two-run homer started the scoring. Then, back-to-back hits from Porter and Aden Hill put runners on second and third base for senior Jacob Orr, who drove them in with a double.
It was deja vu in the second inning, as Calarco hit another home run to center field with two outs to extend the Terps lead to seven. Northwestern starter Amar Tsengeg continued to struggle, putting two more Terps on before a pitching change was made.
Northwestern put up its first run of the game in the third inning, with junior Jack Lausch’s home run off the scoreboard. But Maryland responded again, scoring seven runs in the third inning to put the game out of reach.
Elijah Lambros and Brayden Martin reached base before Eddie Hacopian’s three-run homer. Then, Porter drove a no-doubt, two-run shot to left field as Maryland’s lead stretched to double digits.
In his first action in three weeks, sophomore Liam Wilson doubled to right field, scoring two more runs. Maryland added more scoring in the fourth inning, hitting three doubles and scoring three runs to extend its lead to 17-1.
Freshman Jake Yeager made his second Sunday start for Maryland, but couldn’t find the same success as last week. Yeager allowed just one run in his first four innings, but was tagged for five in the fifth inning to end a great start.
After a long fourth inning, Yeager lost his groove on the mound. He loaded the bases before recording an out and allowed back-to-back home runs, including Owen McElfatrick’s grand slam. Jackson Freeman followed it up with a solo shot, as the Wildcats looked to crawl their way back.
“If you have a 40-minute long inning, the focus and intent are really important within those time frames,” Swope said. “Young guys will continue to learn from those gaps and be better.”
This sequence ended Yeager’s day and brought in sophomore Andrew Koshy. It initially appeared as though he would allow no further damage, but it turned into a nightmare inning for the Terps.
Chris Hacopian dropped a routine fly ball at shortstop with two outs, and Northwestern took advantage. Graduate Vince Bianchina doubled to score a run, while senior Bennett Markinson’s two-run shot cut the deficit to single digits, 17-9.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Terps’ offense fired back again, scoring five runs in the sixth inning. Maryland loaded the bases with no outs, as Chris Hacopian delivered an RBI, while Eddie Hacopian scored on a passed ball. Porter tacked on three more runs with his second home run of the day, extending the lead to 22-9.
Lausch launched his second home run of the day for the Wildcats in the seventh inning. Still, it wasn’t enough to avoid the mercy rule, as Andrew Johnson finished the job for the Terps.
“Huge chip on our shoulder now; our backs’ against the wall,” Calarco said. “We understand the position we’ve been in, now it’s time to execute in every aspect.”
Three things to know
1. Offense carries again. Maryland scored 22 runs and recorded 16 hits — every player contributed a run or hit.
2. Not a complete game. Maryland held a 16-run advantage after four innings, but the pitching couldn’t finish strong, allowing 10 runs across the final three innings.
3. Another series loss. Despite outscoring Northwestern this weekend, Maryland dropped 2-of-3 games, as it fell to 0-5 in three-game series’ this season.