Hot starts have been a rarity in conference play for Maryland baseball this season. 

Maryland had two games this week and scored a combined 37 runs, more than any two games combined this season and 53 runs in their last three games. 

The Terps haven’t scored more than two runs in the first any Big Ten game this season, that all changed when David Mendez cracked a three-run home run on a full count with two outs. 

Maryland  used that momentum to defeat Michigan State 18-10  using a huge offensive explosion to win in a shootout.

The 18 run outburst came after scoring 19 in an 11-run win Tuesday against Mount St. Mary’s. As Maryland is looking to qualify for the Big Ten tournament for the first time in three years, the offensive output is a good sign

The Terps doubled added to their lead in the second scoring four runs and never gave the Spartans a chance. 

Logan Hastings got his first Friday night start in East Lansing. He  went 5 1/3 on 117 pitches and allowed six earned runs. Five of the six runs Hastings gave up came in the third inning where the Spartans put together back to back base hits that scored multiple runners.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an inning like that, but to able to fight and grind and gave us more is really important for us,” Coach Matt Swope said.

The Terp offense put up four multi score innings including three different three run home runs. The dugout exploded when Brayden Martin belted his second home run of the season over the right field wall, one of the six times he reached base on Friday. 

“He has such a professional approach and knowing him he’s trying to get a run in and he had a great swing on the homer,” Swope said.

In the eighth, the bases were loaded for David Mendez and he smoked a three run double to give him a career high six RBI effort.

“He bought in immediately. We had a heart to heart and he’s been committed and his numbers have shot up,” Swope said. 

Cristopher Cespedes came in relief for the Terps and pitched a strong outing, going 3 2/3 innings and striking out seven for a save. 

“He keeps getting better and better,” Swope said. “I think he was up to 97 on the fastball today and he was good mixing in his sinker. It was huge for us to use two pitchers today because of the onslaught of injuries we have.” 

Maryland’s offense will need to keep producing at a high rate if the team wants postseason baseball, and games like Friday night need to happen more frequently in the final month.