The Terps improved to 2-0 against the Mountaineers this season.
Maryland baseball wasted no time putting runs on the board against Mount St. Mary’s Tuesday. Behind a dominant start from Brayden Ryan and a trio of home runs, the Terps never looked back.
Maryland scored in each of the first four innings and never trailed, as the Terps trotted to a commanding 10-3 victory, its second win over the Mountaineers this season.
The Terps jumped to a quick lead in the first inning. With one out and two runners on base following a walk and hit-by-pitch, Hollis Porter sent a towering shot over the wall to give Maryland a 3-0 lead.
The Terps’ offense kept rolling in the second inning. A Mount St. Mary’s error extended the frame, and Elijah Lambros made them pay with a solo home run to left field, pushing Maryland’s lead to four runs.
Ryan cruised through the first two innings on the mound, retiring Mount St. Mary’s in order in the first and escaping a brief threat in the second. He stayed sharp throughout, allowing just one run on five hits in seven innings. He also totaled four strikeouts.
Maryland added another run in the third inning, when Alex Calarco walked, advanced to third base on a double by Jacob Orr and scored on a sacrifice fly by Aden Hill. Brayden Martin then homered in the fourth inning to give the Terps a 6-0 lead.
Mount St. Mary’s finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run by Bryce Rudisill, but Ryan limited further damage.
The Terps added additional coverage in the eighth inning. Orr launched a solo home run, and after an error and a walk put two runners on, Eddie Hacopian cleared the bases with another home run.
Mount St. Mary’s added a run in the eighth inning on a solo homer, but still faced an eight-run deficit heading into the final frame.
In the ninth inning, Evan Meier cut the deficit with another solo shot, but Jack Wren closed the game and secured the win with three strikeouts in the final two innings.
Maryland finished with 10 runs on 11 hits, including five homers and a pair of doubles. Eddie Hacopian, Martin, Porter, Orr, Hill and Lambros each recorded an RBI, taking advantage of three Mountaineer errors and eight walks.
Three things to know
1. Hacopian stays hot. Hacopian continued his impressive season at the plate. The senior totaled two hits and launched a three-run homer.
2. Late-game homers. The Terps have developed a knack for late-inning fireworks. Four of their runs came in the eighth inning or later, continuing a recent pattern of clutch power hitting. Over the last five games, the Terps have scored 19 runs in the final two innings.
3. Maryland’s bullpen got a rare break. Ryan’s deep outing allowed Maryland to rest its usual relievers. With Ryan pitching seven strong innings and Wren finishing things off, arms like Andrew Koshy and Kyle McCoy stayed fresh.