The Terps lost their third straight Friday game despite adjusting their starting rotation.
Maryland baseball dropped its series opener at Nebraska, 6-3, on Friday night. After a back-and-forth start, the Cornhuskers (24-11, 7-3 Big Ten) jumped on Maryland starter Logan Koester in the fourth inning and held the Terps (24-15, 5-8) silent thereafter, handing them their third straight Friday night loss.
The two teams entered Friday with entirely opposite pitching situations. Maryland opted not to start Kenny Lippman — who’s struggled immensely of late — instead turning to Koester, who usually starts on Saturdays. On the other hand, Nebraska had its ace, Brett Sears, on the hill, one of the best pitchers in the Big Ten.
Koester got off to a good start, forcing double plays to end the first two innings and keeping the Cornhuskers off the board.
Maryland turned that momentum into an early lead in the third inning when Chris Hacopian hit a solo home run, however Nebraska’ Joshua Overbeek answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom half. Later in the inning, Nebraska took the lead after Koester balked.
In the fourth, the Terps retook an advantage after RBI hits by Jacob Orr and Michael Iannazzo. But then the wheels fell off for Koester.
Nebraska got to Maryland’s starter in definitive fashion in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Columbus tied the game with a solo home run to right field, and the Cornhuskers took the lead shortly after when Cayden Brumbaugh hit a two-run double. Then, Cole Evans hits an RBI double to make it 6-3, bringing in the final run of the game.
Koester finished the inning, but that was the end of his night. He finished having given up six earned runs on nine hits.
Meanwhile, Sears threw seven solid innings, striking out eight batters despite giving up his most runs in a start this season. Jalen Worthley sent the Terps down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to record a save.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Terps on the mound, however. Trystan Sarcone relieved Koester, making his first appearance since an injury to his throwing arm on April 3 against UMBC. After that game, Maryland head coach Matt Swope alluded to the possibility of Sarcone’s injury being a season-ender, but just over two weeks later, Sarcone was back on the bump for game action.
Sarcone was effective, working two scoreless innings. He retired three straight batters after giving up a leadoff single in the fifth and worked out of a jam to end the sixth.
Andrew Johnson also threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Three things to know
1. Rotation changes didn’t help. Despite going to Koester instead of Lippman, Maryland lost its third straight series opener.
2. Maryland battled against Sears. Sears has been one of the best pitchers in the country this season, but Maryland didn’t go quietly. The Terps didn’t score enough to win, yet they did push more runs across than any other team has against Sears this season.
3. Hacopian retook the home run lead. Hacopian started off the scoring with his ninth home run of the season, moving him past Sam Hojnar for the team lead.