Maryland baseball had everything riding on its series against Rutgers.
The Terps came into the game at the bottom of the Big Ten with a slim chance to qualify for the tournament. Maryland’s offense was absolutely stifled and only mustered one hit through eight innings.
However, the Terps’ Big Ten Tournament bid fell short, getting thoroughly hammered, 10-0, in run-rule fashion on Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey. The defeat mathematically eliminated them from a postseason berth.
“I was extremely disappointed and I kind of got on them,” head coach Matt Swope said. “These last five games you gotta just have self-intrinsic motivation and pride.”
That pride looked to be in question in Sunday’s series finale, with the Terps down 5-1 through two innings. Brayden Ryan started for the Terps and was run out of the game by the Scarlet Knights after recording just three outs.
Four big home runs saw the Terps battle back from the five-run hole and win the series finale, 11-7. It snapped Maryland’s seven-game conference losing streak and helped it avoid consecutive series sweeps.
The standout for the Terps offensively was Paul Jones II, who had two of the four home runs, including a three-run shot in the top of the third to the opposite field.
Jones did it again later in the top of the fifth, when he went deep to center and gave Maryland a 6-5 lead.
The other two home runs, deep shots from Jordan Crosland and freshman Bud Coombs, helped the Terps extend their lead.
“The resilience of the guys bouncing back was great to see, PJ and Bud had some big swings and we were able to ride on them from there,” Swope said.
Jones and Coombs combined for nine of Maryland’s 11 runs, highlighting its talented youth core. Michael Iannazzo had a career-high four-hit game as well.
“[Iannazzo] streaky, one of the most streaky kids I’ve ever met,” Swope said.
“He is a career .300 hitter. Always a spark and the guys you can tell are rooting for him.”
Maryland emptied the bullpen, using four different arms in relief. The bullpen paid its dividends, with the four arms only allowing two runs combined as they stifled the Scarlet Knight offense. Andrew Koshy, James Gladden, Jake Yeager and Lance Williams combined for only four hits allowed in eight innings of play.
“Just surviving,” Swope said. “We knew we were going to go to Lance there at the end for three or four innings and Lance was able to be really efficient.”
But the bullpen arms overshadowed Ryan’s shaky start. While the right-hander threw 28 of his 41 pitches in the zone and didn’t issue a free pass, he was hit around. The Scarlet Knights produced four knocks in the first inning and tagged Ryan for three runs.
While Swope opted to keep the redshirt junior in the game, his leash was short. Ryan allowed a solo shot from Charlie Meglio and a double from Tyler Wiltsey before he was pulled in place of Koshy. Still, the inherited runner came around to score after two bunts.
Maryland’s relief pitchers settled in. The Terps allowed a two-run fifth inning and only three hits the rest of the way. That helped Maryland flip its early deficit into a commanding victory.
There was also history made, as Brayden Martin drew two walks on Sunday. Martin tied Luke Shlinger for the most career walks in program history.
With the Terps eliminated from postseason play, the young group showed great resilience and pride in bouncing back.
