Maryland Baseball had a fantastic day at the plate. It scored 12 runs and hit .500 with runners on base.
But the Terps offense was once again overshadowed by pitching woes. None of Maryland’s four pitchers escaped the game without a run taxed, eventually falling to Ohio State 14-12 at Bill Davis Stadium.
“Today we just got beat,” head coach Matt Swope said. “They just got one more big swing than we did.”
The loss seals Maryland’s fourth straight conference series loss to begin the season.
Maryland had its chances. It had the lead at several points during the game and a chance to win with arguably its best pitcher this season, Logan Hastings, ready to close.
Hastings struck out five batters in two innings, but he surrendered a costly two-RBI single — which came unearned due to a field error by Maryland — giving Ohio State the winning runs.
Untimely miscues have plagued Maryland all season long, ruining offensive explosions and relief appearances like Hastings’ on Saturday.
It didn’t start out badly, though. The Terps got going early with a solo home run off the bat of Jordan Crosland.
But the Buckeyes responded right away. Alex Bemis hit a leadoff home run to immediately tie up the game, before they took the lead on an RBI groundout.
Starting today for the Terps was Lance Williams. The usual Friday starter was moved back to Saturday this week in an attempt to help solve the Terps’ pitching woes.
Yet, his run of shaky starts continued. He gave up his second home run of the game to give the lead right back to the Buckeyes.
Williams continued to work into trouble. His day ended after another solo home run from the Buckeyes in just 2 1/3 innings. He allowed seven runs, with five being earned.
The home runs kept coming in the inning, even as Bailey entered. The Buckeyes hit two more over the fence before Bailey escaped the third inning, and he was replaced.
Offensively, the Terps were keeping pace. They had the lead after a six-run explosion in the top of the third inning.
Ryan Costello launched a grand slam to right field before Jackson Sirois hit a two-run shot of his own.
Things quieted down over the next few innings, as Chris Domke settled in for the Buckeyes and made it through five innings with ten runs allowed.
The fireworks picked back up in the sixth inning. Costello’s home run was one of two on the day, along with five RBIs. Ty Kaunas hit a homer the previous at-bat, while Nate Hawton-Henley smacked an RBI triple.
The Buckeyes’ offense responded. Brayden Ryan allowed a two-run homer, leaving the game tied entering the seventh inning.
Jake Michalak collected the win for Ohio State. He pitched the final four innings and struck out eight Terps while limiting them to one run, allowing the Buckeyes to take control.
