For the second straight season, Maryland men’s baseball has clinched at least a share of the Big Ten regular season championship.
Despite Maryland’s loss against Penn State on Friday night, Michigan State’s win against Indiana secured the Terps’ second consecutive Big Ten championship with still a chance left to secure the outright title. Maryland now secures its second Big Ten title and sixth conference title in program history, a massive feat for a program that once went 57 years without a conference title. Head coach Rob Vaughn’s squad now becomes the first team to repeat as Big Ten champions since Indiana did it back in 2013-14.
Maryland fell, 5-3, to the Nittany Lions on Friday night after a go-ahead single in the bottom of the fifth proved too much for the Terps to overcome but it’d be Thursday night’s thrilling win that set the stage for the conference championship win.
Penn State jumped out to an early lead after a seven-run second inning, but Maryland mounted its own comeback and scored 11 runs over the final three innings, including five consecutive runs in the top of the ninth despite facing a two-out situation, to secure a 17-15 win in Happy Valley. “We were just relentless and unbelievably tough, we talk about it, this time of year is all about finding a way to win,” head coach Rob Vaughn said after the win. “To come back there was quite the game, I’m proud of the effort, proud of the toughness and it is what it is you have to refuse to lose.”
Maryland has a chance to win the outright regular season title when they face Penn State at noon on Saturday as the Terps look to move to 37-19 (17-7).
After winning the conference, Maryland baseball will begin the Big Ten Tournament next Tuesday as the top overall seed. Checking in at 20th in D1 Baseball’s top 25 last week, Maryland also remains the highest-ranked program within the Big Ten.
Related Links
Deonte Banks officially signs, Rakim Jarrett drawing intrigue
SFA RB DeJuan Williams names top school, sets official visit
Lake Brantley (FL) LB Mike Harris preparing for split with brother, transition to Maryland (+)
VIP: Maryland active in the Sunshine State, visit plans for top target (+)
Analyzing Mady Traore and his fit with Maryland basketball (+)
