The Terps’ two-run eighth inning secured the win.
Maryland baseball took a 9-1 lead over Minnesota in the sixth inning and looked to be on its way to its first series sweep of the season.
The Terps had scored a run in five consecutive innings, and the pitching had done its job — but that changed in a disastrous bottom of the sixth frame.
Senior Omar Melendez crumbled after a strong start to the game, allowing five runs in the inning — including back-to-back home runs — without recording an out, while sophomore Andrew Koshy allowed another home run, as Minnesota cut its deficit to 9-7.
Minnesota kept it interesting, using a three-run eighth inning to get within one run. It nearly hit a walk-off two-run shot in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough, as Maryland came out on top, 11-10, to earn its first three-game series sweep of the season.
Maryland’s (26-27, 11-16 Big Ten) offense delivered again, scoring eight-plus runs for the third consecutive game against the Golden Gophers (22-27, 8-19 Big Ten). Eddie Hacopian led the way with four hits, while Alex Calarco walked four times and scored three runs.
“I felt like I was seeing it well all weekend,” Eddie Hacopian said. “I was looking at film and looking for stuff to improve, and I found something with my posture and bat angle.”
Melendez made his second start of the season and looked good through five innings, allowing just one run on one hit. However, the senior unraveled in the sixth inning, allowing five runs and ending his day with 5.0 innings pitched and six runs allowed on six hits.
Luke Ryerse made his fifth start of the season for Minnesota. The freshman hadn’t pitched more than 3.0 innings in a game, which stayed true. Ryerse lasted just over three innings, giving up four runs on three hits and walking four batters.
The Golden Gophers’ bullpen wasn’t much better, as four arms combined to allow seven runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings.
Ryerse pitched a scoreless first inning, but lost his command in the second inning. He walked three batters to load the bases before senior Elijah Lambros knocked a two-run single to put the Terps up 2-0.
The Golden Gophers responded with a double from junior Easton Richter. He stole third base and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to get Minnesota within one.
Eddie Hacopian added to the lead with a solo shot in the third inning — his ninth of the season — while Ryerse walked Aden Hill to open the fourth, ending his day. Sophomore Tyler Hemmesch came in relief, but couldn’t stop the bleeding. He walked the first batter he faced, then a wild pitch allowed Hill to score. Parker Corbin then singled to add the Terps’ second run of the inning.
The Terps added on in the fifth inning with two more runs. Maryland’s first three batters reached base — Hacopian singled, Calarco walked and Jacob Orr was hit by a pitch — before back-to-back RBI groundouts from Hill and Paul Jones II put the Terps up 7-1.
Maryland’s offense continued to find success in the sixth inning, scoring for the fifth straight inning and third consecutive multi-run inning. The Golden Gophers’ arms failed to miss bats and continued to struggle with their command. The Terps used singles from Hacopian and Calarco to drive in the first run. Minnesota’s command struggles allowed more Terps runs, walking two batters, and hitting Hill to score the second run of the inning.
Minnesota’s offense responded with a huge inning, getting it back in the game. First, it tagged Melendez for a single before back-to-back home runs from Drew Berkland and Weber Neels cut the deficit to 9-4. Richter added a bunt, while Melendez walked another hitter to end his day.
This brought in the sophomore Koshy from the bullpen, but the wheels continued to fall off. Senior Jake Larson’s three-run shot cut the Golden Gophers’ deficit to just two.
Neither team scored in the seventh inning, but the Terps got back on the scoreboard in the eighth inning. Hacopian knocked his fourth hit of the day, while Calarco walked for the fourth time. Both runners advanced on a flyout, while Hacopian scored on a wild pitch. Jones added on with an RBI double to extend the lead to four.
Minnesota fought back with three runs in the eighth inning after a defensive error from the Terps to start the inning. Ryan Van Buren hit the next batter, then a sacrifice fly scored a run. Josh Fitzgerald added an RBI single, and a sacrifice steal attempt allowed the runner at third to score to get it within one.
Van Buren faced trouble in the ninth inning, putting two runners on, but escaped the jam with no runs allowed to earn the save and seal the win for the Terps.
“It says a lot about the kids all year,” head coach Matt Swope said. “We lost a lot of tough Friday Games and then [got] run-ruled by a lot of really good teams the very next day. I think it’s a similar mentality. Yeah, some things didn’t go well on Sundays, but the guys continue to be consistent with our energy and the commitment to each other and bouncing back.”
Three things to know
1. Much-needed sweep. Maryland is still on the outside looking in on the 12-team Big Ten postseason, but the weekend sweep gives it a much better chance.
2. Pitching did enough. The Terps’ bullpen has struggled to close out many games this season, but did enough to keep the Terps up throughout this one.
3. The season is on the line next week. Maryland will host Rutgers in a three-game series next weekend at home. To qualify for the Big Ten postseason, Maryland will likely need to win two out of three or complete the sweep.