The Terps have still yet to win a three-game series in 2025.
Maryland came into Sunday’s doubleheader with a chance to win its first Big Ten series after a heartbreaking loss Saturday.
The Terps took game one, but No. 15 Oregon dominated game two to clinch the series.
Maryland secures its second ranked win in game one
The Terps trailed for half an inning in the front half of the doubleheader, then dominated the rest of the game.
The Terps outscored Oregon by 12 runs the rest of the way, fueled by a six-run sixth inning, earning their second ranked win of the season, 12-2, in seven innings.
Senior Andrew Johnson made his first start of the season for Maryland, as head coach Matt Swope continues to look for consistency within the rotation. Johnson did his job, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing three hits and two earned runs.
But Logan Hastings earned the win out of the bullpen. The freshman was the only relief arm used for the Terps, going 3.2 innings and surrendering just two hits.
“[Hastings has] been in all different types of situations,” head coach Matt Swope said. “He’s really good if we can keep him in the zone. If we can stay off that freebie and make them earn it, we’ll be fine.”
Like Saturday’s game, neither team scored through two innings, but the offenses awoke in the third. Johnson allowed just one baserunner through two, but got into trouble in the third. The first four batters of the inning either reached base or advanced runners, putting the Ducks up 2-0 with just one out. Johnson recovered, though, retiring the final two batters to limit the damage.
Maryland responded with two runs of its own, needing just one hit thanks to Oregon starting pitching Collin Clarke’s three walks in the inning. Hollis Porter drove in the first run on an RBI groundout, while Jacob Orr’s sacrifice fly tied it.
Oregon failed to drive in any runners with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, while Maryland took advantage of its baserunners in the fifth. The Terps’ first four batters reached base, with a walk and three singles, leading to two runs. Porter drove in his second run of the day, followed by Alex Calarco delivering an RBI single of his own after being intentionally walked in his previous two at-bats.
This ended Clarke’s day, bringing in sophomore Ryan Featherston with runners on the corners and no outs. Featherston escaped unscathed after Orr lined into a double play at third base, striking out Aden Hill.
Featherston lost his command in the sixth inning. He walked four batters, which led to a Maryland run, and left the bases loaded with one out.
Junior Sam Boyle entered in relief, striking out the first batter he faced. He couldn’t get past Clarco, though, as his single down the third base line hit the umpire, but scored a run. This wasn’t it for the Terps, as Orr delivered again with a bases-clearing double, while Hill’s single to center field made it 10-2.
Oregon’s final chance came in the seventh inning with the bases loaded, but Hastings worked out of the jam with no damage taken.
Maryland ended it in the bottom half with Martin’s two-RBI double, enforcing the mercy rule.
Oregon dominates game two
Oregon left runners on base in each of the first four innings, leaving the game tied. However, they capitalized in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on two homers to extend its lead to five.
The Ducks added five more runs, as they cruised to a 13-3 victory to earn the series win.
Oregon junior Jason Reitz produced the best start of his career, posting a career-high 97 total pitches in seven innings, along with 11 strikeouts. He was helped out by 16 hits from the offense to earn his first win of the season.
Maryland’s offense picked up right where it left off, scoring two first-inning runs. Porter singled down the right field line, scoring both Hacopian brothers and giving him four RBIs on the day.
Just like the previous two games, Maryland’s pitching held the Ducks scoreless through two innings but experienced trouble in the third inning. Sophomore Joey McMannis started before being replaced by freshman Jake Yeager in the third. This was Yeager’s first appearance out of the bullpen after struggling as a weekend starter. He recorded just one out before the Terps made a change.
In his place, graduate Devin Milberg entered the game but walked the first batter he faced to score Oregon’s tying run after inheriting the bases loaded with one out. Maryland looked like it would fall behind, but took advantage of the Ducks’ base running mistake. They tried to advance the runner from second to third after a lineout, but Orr’s throw was in time before the runner from third crossed home plate, keeping things tied at two.
Maryland found itself in trouble again in the fourth inning, as Milberg loaded the bases with one out. The Terps turned to sophomore Andrew Koshy, who managed to escape after allowing just one run. This proved crucial, as the Terps tied the game again in the bottom half. Orr and Calarco both reached base before Hill’s groundout drove in the runner from third to make it 3-3.
Koshy couldn’t match the success, allowing five runs in the fifth inning — Mason Neville started with a three-run shot, while Jacob Walsh hit a two-run homer — to give the Ducks an 8-3 lead. Junior Drew Smith drove in another run in the sixth inning to extend the lead.
“The theme of this season has been way too many freebies,” Swope said. “The majority of the game we were … trying to go on sheer grit and trying to get the comeback.”
Maryland’s chance came in the eighth inning with the bases loaded, but failed to score any runs. Meanwhile, the Ducks added four more runs in the ninth inning to seal its double-digit victory.
“I told them let’s focus on how we played a complete game Wednesday, and game one and two of the series,” Swope said. “If we can consistently put two, three and four games in a row, we’ll be dangerous down the stretch.”
Three things to know
1. Another series loss. Maryland had its best chance to win a series in a while, but fell short once again.
2. Pitching couldn’t deliver a full series. Maryland’s pitching played very well the first two games, but allowed double-digit scoring in game three, while every Ducks starter recorded a hit.
3. Road swing ahead next week. The Terps’ next four games come on the road. They take on Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday, then travel to Indiana for the weekend series.