Maryland baseball was looking good. After dropping the first two games of the series against Michigan, it looked likely to be the Terps’ first win. The Wolverines were down to their final out and trailed by two runs. 

The runner on first went to steal, and it appeared Maryland catcher threw him out. The Terps’ dugout rushed the field and the music started. However, the call was overturned and the runner was deemed to be safe. 

The Terps had an ensuing meltdown in the ninth, allowing a two-out rally led by a two-run go-ahead double by Joonsung Park. That knock gave the Wolverines the 8-7 win.

The Terps’ slow start and meltdown at the end truly cost them and caused them to be swept. Maryland started in a 4-0 hole due to the Wolverines’ four-run third. 

In the top of the fourth, a ball was hit to deep right field and appeared to be gone to extend the lead further for the Wolverines. However, the dual-sport freshman phenom Bud Coombs leaped into the air and robbed the home run climbing the right field wall. 

Coombs sensational play drew a standing ovation from both Maryland and Michigan fans.

“You have a freshman who’s dynamic and can make plays. There was one in the ninth. I know he wants back but he is dynamic and saved us multiple runs,” head coach Matt Swope said.

The energy seemed to shift in the stadium.

On que, in their bottom half of the frame, the Terps overcame the commanding deficit to take a 7-5 lead. 

It got started in the fourth for the Terps, where two walks saw freshman Nate Hawton-Henley step up to the plate and single to right, scoring Ryan Costello.

The Terps scored in four straight innings, including three multi-run innings. That was highlighted by Jordan Crosland’s two-run shot to cut the Michigan lead to 5-3. 

In the sixth inning, the Terps had a pair of runners in scoring position for Brayden Martin. But Michigan pitcher Michael Quedens committed a costly balk to plate Ty Kaunas and the ensuing pitch saw a bunt single from Martin to score Hawton Henley and make it 5-5.

“I felt like we had a professional approach today. We were relentless for four straight innings but it wasn’t enough,” Swope said.

The Terps’ starter was the ace Logan Hastings, who had been out this week with a stomach bug. He went five innings, allowing four runs and only managing two strikeouts.

The pitching star for the Terps was Andrew Koshy, who went three and 2/3 innings efficiently in only 67 pitches. Koshy struck out four Michigan batters. 

He was entrusted with the Terps’ lead in the ninth and quickly sat down two Wolverines — one of which was another spectacular catch by Coombs, this time laying out laterally to complete a diving catch. However, Koshy walked the next two and then gave up an RBI single to end his outing.

“He did a really good job outside of the last inning. He was pounding the zone, maybe he just ran out of gas but we have to limit the freebies in that situation. Maybe I left him in a batter too long,” Swope said.

Ryan Bailey inherited runners on the corners, only needing an out. But Bailey simply couldn’t deliver, giving up the double over the head of Bud Coombs.

In the ninth, the Terps had two on with two outs. However, Kaunas struck out swinging to end the game.

With the Terps’ tournament chances dwindling away, a sweep was not ideal.