The Terps (19-11) used a three-run bottom of the fifth to win their second Big Ten series of the year, beating Rutgers (15-15), 4-3.
The Terps came into the second game of the series following a 6-4 win on Friday. The Terps were propelled to victory by the bat of Nick Lorusso, who blasted a three-run homer over the batter’s eye in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Terps the lead. Maryland’s pitching was solid throughout, with Jason Savacool pitching six and two-thirds innings of three-run ball.
Nick Dean got the starting assignment, his eighth start of the season. Dean came into this start off one of his best starts of the season against Iowa. Dean held the Hawkeyes to one hit through five innings, striking out four. On the season Dean sported a 5.94 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, entering the game.
The Scarlet Knights’ starter was freshman, Christian Coppola. Coppola came into the game after a solid start against Michigan State. In that start, Coppola pitched four and third innings giving up just three earned runs. Coppola came into the game allowing only four extra-base hits in his 21 innings pitched this season.
The starters were untouchable to start the game. Dean set down the first six Scarlet Knight batters in order and his opponent, Coppola, allowed just one baserunner (a hit-by-pitch) through the first two frames.
The first hit of the game came in the top of the third, a triple to right off the bat of Maximus Martin. Martin jogged home in the following at-bat by Jordan Sweeney, who hit a deep fly ball to left. The Scarlet Knights accumulated two more baserunners, but a strikeout to Ryan Lasko ended the two-out threat.
Martin wreaked havoc again in the top of the fifth, this time plating a run himself. Martin sent Dean’s 1-2 offering over the fence in center field for his fourth home run of the season, giving Rutgers a 2-0 lead.
“[Maximus Martin] He had a good day today,” said head coach Rob Vaughn. “I mean shoot he was kind of single-handedly beating us there for a little while.”
Maximus wasn’t the only Martin to put a ball over the fence. Zach Martin, the sophomore from Frederick, MD, in his second straight start, tied the game at 2-2, in the bottom of the fifth. Martin’s first home run of the season was a 2-run blast over the fence in right field that scored himself and Elijah Lambros.
“I can’t say enough about how proud of him that I am,” said Vaughn. “What a great moment for him and it’s hopefully something that can springboard his confidence and springboard him into the rest of the year.”
Coppola’s day ended a batter later. Coppola ended the day pitching four and a third innings, allowing two earned runs. Coppola walked one batter and struck out four. Left-hander Joe Mazza came on in relief, and the first batter he faced, Nick Lorusso.
Lorusso continued his torrid hitting. Lorusso extended his hitting streak to 29 games with a solo homer that was just inches away from hitting the scoreboard in left center. The solo shot gave the Terps their first lead of the game, 3-2.
Nick Dean finished his day on the bump with a clean inning in the top of the sixth. Dean had a really strong outing pitching six innings only allowing two runs. Dean struck out five Scarlet Knights, walking only one. Dean handed the ball over to Kenny Lippman and the bullpen in the seventh.
“I feel pretty good about the outing,” said Dean. “Me and [Luke] Shliger got on the same page throughout the entire thing and we just did a really good job of executing the plan today.”
Lippman was solid out of the ‘pen retiring the first six batters he faced in order, in his first two innings of work. Lippman came out to pitch the ninth after the Maryland offense pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
With the Terps leading, 4-2, at the start of the ninth, that insurance run proved to be an immensely important run. Lippman fired the first pitch of the inning to Evan Sleight who deposited the pitch over the batter’s eye. The solo homer brought the Scarlet Knights within one, ending Lippman’s day of work.
David Falco Jr. entered the one-run game needing to get the final two outs. The first out of his appearance was a controversial one. A grounder hit by Andy Axelson was fielded by Shaw who threw to Hacopian at first. The throw appeared to pull Hacopian off the bag and the umpire called Axelson safe. After a conversation between Vaughn and the first base umpire, all four umpires gathered together, exiting the huddle calling Axelson out at first. Vaughn called the play, “bizarre.”
Falco Jr. got Maximus Martin to fly out to center to end the game.
The game was a classic pitcher’s duel. Hurlers from both teams were able to shut down the opposing lineup. There were a total of 12 hits in the game and both teams hit under .260.
“That was just a really well-pitched game, really on both sides,” said Vaughn.
Maryland’s offense used a three-run fifth inning to take the lead and the insurance run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the deciding factor.
The Terps will go for the series sweep on Sunday in the final game of the weekend series.
