The Terps’ postseason hopes hang by a thread after squandering several late-game opportunities.
Maryland baseball and Rutgers came into Thursday’s matchup needing wins to keep pace in the Big Ten standings, and both offenses did their jobs.
The Terps and Scarlet Knights recorded double-digit hits, but Rutgers’ bats were better situationally, going 3-of-4 with runners in scoring position compared to Maryland’s dismal 2-of-14.
This trend struck the Terps at the worst possible moments. They had the bases loaded down by two in both the eighth and ninth innings and came up empty twice, falling to Rutgers, 6-4.
“That’s a tough way to lose,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Just couldn’t push through [after] double playing the first, and then man on third in the third, multiple runners on other innings, and then bases loaded eighth and ninth.”
The Scarlet Knights took the lead early with a four-run second inning and never looked back, despite Maryland staying close.
In the crucial matchup, Maryland was the first to punch. Back-to-back singles from Chris and Eddie Hacopian scored Brayden Martin, who opened the game with a walk. Rutgers starter Landon Mack responded, though, forcing a double play and groundout to work out of the jam in just three pitches.
Momentum flipped in the second inning as the Scarlet Knights tagged Maryland starter Brayden Ryan for four runs on six hits to take the lead. The redshirt sophomore looked strong for five outs but unraveled when Rutgers rallied in the second inning.
The redshirt sophomore got the count to two outs and two strikes before his former teammate at Merrimack, Matt Chatelle, ripped an RBI single. RJ Johnson Jr. launched a two-run home run, his first of the season, two pitches later. Rutgers singled three more times before Ryan got the final out to take a 4-1 lead. Ryan was left to finish the inning, but it marked the end of his day.
“Right there the season’s on the line,” Swope said. “Seven hits in two innings, can’t take that risk.”
Freshman Logan Hastings came in for relief, giving Maryland the needed length. He immediately pitched a 1-2-3 inning and continued to deal for the Terps. He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits to keep the game in reach.
For Rutgers, the true freshman Mack did his job in his 14th start of the season. He gave up 11 hits but did a good job keeping the Terps off the scoreboard, allowing three runs and just one walk while striking out three batters in 5.1 innings.
But Chris Hacopian opened up the fifth inning with a deep home run to center field. Three batters later, Jacob Orr singled to score Eddie Hacopian from third base and cut the deficit to 4-3.
Rutgers came right back with a run of its own in the sixth inning, and added on in the seventh inning with a solo home run by Big Ten hits leader Trevor Cohen.
The Scarlet Knights looked to be in control with star freshman reliever Nolan Peel coming out of the bullpen, but the Terps’ offense didn’t fold. Sophomore Aden Hill’s home run cut the deficit to two in the eighth inning.
A walk and a hit-by pitch ended Peel’s day and brought Maryland’s best hitter, Chris Hacopian, to the plate with a chance to take the lead.
Rutgers graduate Quinn Berglin worked around Hacopian, putting him on first base with a walk and bringing up older brother Eddie with two outs and the bases loaded. The captain put together a competitive at-bat, fouling off three pitches, but grounded out as the offense failed again with runners on base.
Senior Andrew Johnson held things down in the top half of the ninth inning, bringing Maryland’s offense to bat with the season on the line. Rutgers prevented the Terps from getting any hits, but command issues from Berglin loaded the bases with walks.
Senior Elijah Lambros came up for the biggest at-bat of the Terps’ season, but he went down looking on strikes to seal the loss.
“That wasn’t good enough,” Swope said. “Guys are probably staying up studying [for finals] but when you’re out here, kind of let it go and almost view today or tomorrow as an outlet. And it just just didn’t really seem like that.”
Three things to know
1. Not eliminated yet. Despite losing Thursday’s matchup, Maryland is not mathematically eliminated from the Big Ten postseason. The Terps await the result of Northwestern vs. UCLA — they need the Wildcats to lose all three games of the series to have a chance at making the tournament.
2. Terps outhit Rutgers. Maryland outhit Rutgers 13-11 in the loss. Chris Hacopian and Lambros paced the team with three hits each.
3. Missed opportunities. Maryland had plenty of chances to tie or take the lead throughout the game, but couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.