The Terps split the final two games of the Swig & Swine College Classic.
The second day of the Swig and Swine College Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, saw the Terps face Ball State and Mercyhurst in a doubleheader Saturday, after downing UAB, 6-3, on Friday.
Originally scheduled to play Ball State on Saturday and Mercyhurst on Sunday, weather pushed both games to Saturday. The Terps first fell to Ball State, 5-3, but then crushed Mercyhurst, 19-1, to end the weekend.
Three-run first inning pushes Ball State past Maryland, 5-3
It was a rough start for Maryland, as Ball State wasted no time taking an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. A series of singles and a hit-by-pitch allowed the Cardinals to capitalize. Ball State’s Clay Jacobs’ single to right field brought in two runs, after an Eddie Hacopian error brought in the first score. The trio of runs helped the Cardinals secure a 5-3 victory of the Terps.
Despite the early setback, Maryland didn’t go down without a fight. The Terps got on the board in the third inning when Hacopian smacked a double to left field, scoring Brayden Martin, who worked his way around the bases through steals and aggressive baserunning.
The Terps kept the pressure on throughout the game. In the fifth inning, Alex Calarco launched a solo home run to left-center field to bring the score to 3-2.
But Ball State responded in the sixth inning, as DJ Scheumann’s two-run shot extended the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3, squashing Maryland’s rally.
A ground-rule double by Martin in the seventh inning and a couple of walks couldn’t provide the spark Maryland needed to mount a comeback.
The Terps crushed Mercyhurst, 19-1
Maryland clapped back in its second contest of the day. The Terps and Mercyhurst were both scoreless after the first inning, but Maryland turned on the jets to a 19-1 victory.
The Terps wasted no time getting their offense rolling. Their bats came alive early, putting four players on base in the first inning. But after ending the inning without a run, Maryland struck in the second inning, as sophomore Jordan Crosland hit a home run to left-center field.
Mercyhurst responded in the third inning, as Ranciel Ventura struck a triple to drive in Eric Chorba. That was the only run Mercyhurst scored, the Terps continued to pile on. In the bottom of the fourth inning, a series of errors and timely hits — including a two-run RBI double from Chris Hacopian — gave Maryland a 3-1 lead.
The Terps continued their surge in the fifth inning. With Calarco at the plate, Maryland broke the game wide open. Calarco crushed a 1-0 pitch over the center field wall for a three-run homer, driving in Crosland, Aden Hill and Liam Willson, giving the Terps a 7-1 lead.
The scoring burst also included a two-run double from Chris Hacopian, who brought in Eddie Hacopian and Martin. Both scored after a Mercyhurst defensive error, pushing the lead to eight runs.
By the sixth inning, Maryland was firing on all cylinders, scoring five more runs. Hollis Porter’s single that brought in Eddie Hacopian made its lead 14-1.
Maryland exploded with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, highlighted by a fielding error from Mercyhurst that allowed the Terps multiple unearned scores. Michael Iannazzo reached third on the error, and Paul Jones II, Jacob Orr and Dom Moats crossed home plate. The Terps improved their lead to 19-1 in the inning, which is where the score ultimately stood.
Maryland walked away from the Swing and Swine College Classic with a 2-1 record.
Three things to know
1. Hacopian brothers shine again. The dynamic duo of Chris and Eddie Hacopian played a huge role in Maryland’s offensive explosion. They combined for five hits and two runs over the weekend, including a two-run RBI double from Chris.
2. A dominant fifth Inning. Maryland’s six-run outburst against Mercyhurst in the bottom of the fifth inning broke the game open. Calarco blasted a three-run home run in the inning.
3. Defensive fundamentals. Maryland’s defense was sharp, turning crucial plays and making key outs to keep Ball State and Mercyhurst off the scoreboard. Its strong defensive execution was a key factor in limiting the two programs’ opportunities to score.