Maryland baseball hits the road this weekend for their first away Big Ten series of 2024. After taking on Michigan State last weekend, Maryland will battle Sparty’s in-state rival, Michigan. Here’s what you need to know before the series:
Where We Are
Maryland
It’s been a good start for the Terps as they look for a third consecutive Big Ten regular season title. Maryland sits at 19-6 and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Based on tiebreakers, the Terps are currently in first place in the conference. Maryland has won six of its last seven games, four of them coming in the Terps’ last at-bat of the game. Most recently, Maryland beat Georgetown for the second time this season on Tuesday in Tyson. The Terps’ hit four home runs including the team’s second grand slam of the season hit by Elijah Lambros.
Michigan
After dropping game one, Michigan won the last two games in their first Big Ten series in Happy Valley last weekend. Despite their 2-1 conference record, it’s been a rough season for the Wolverines, as they come into Friday’s game at 9-16. Michigan has played four extra-inning games but has also been mercy-ruled twice. The Maize and Blue are coming off of a .500 season that saw them go 13-11 in Big Ten play. This weekend will be just the second weekend home series of the season for Michigan. They previously dropped a series to San Diego in Ann Arbor back on March 12-14.
Series Schedule
Friday: 4:00 – Kenny Lippman (1-2, 4.44 ERA) vs Dylan Vigue (0-2, 6.20 ERA)
Lippman started the season great for the Terps’ but it has been more of a struggle for him recently. Last Friday against Michigan State he gave up three runs in the first inning, but was able to calm down and go through six without giving up any more. He has given up 11 earned runs in his last three starts. A freshman from Leominster, Massachusetts, Vigue has started six games so far for Michigan but has failed to get through five in any of them. He almost did so last Friday against Penn State but finished an out shy while allowing two runs. Walks have been a problem for Vigue as he has two starts with six walks and one with five. He has recorded at least two walks in each of his six starts.
Saturday: 2:00 – Logan Koester (4-1, 2.72 ERA) vs Kurt Barr (3-1, 4.02 ERA)
Koester has continued to be Maryland’s best starting pitcher this season. He has worked at least six innings in his last four starts and has worked at least seven in three of them. He pitched into the eighth inning in his last time out allowing just two runs to Michigan State, despite the Terps dropping the game. He is currently second in the Big Ten in wins and became the first Terp pitcher since Jason Savacool in 2021 to win his first four starts at Maryland. Barr, a sophomore from Ontario, was able to work six innings last time out against Penn State. Despite that, he still surrendered five runs to the Nittany Lions. Most of his appearances this season have come in relief. If he starts again Saturday it will be his fourth start of the season.
Sunday: 12:00 – Joey McMannis (0-0, 3.42 ERA) vs Mitch Voit (2-3, 6.27 ERA)
The freshman McMannis pitched well for the Terps last time out allowing just two runs in six innings to Michigan State. He’ll look to put together a third consecutive quality start for Maryland. After starting the season in the bullpen, McMannis has slowly but surely locked down the third spot in the Maryland rotation. Voit, a two-way player for the Wolverines, was brilliant in his last start pitching into the eighth at Penn State and allowing just two earned runs. It came after a start where he allowed six to San Diego. It’s been boom or bust for Voit on the bump this season as he has three starts of three runs or less and three of at least six. He’s been excellent at the plate this season hitting .330. He had two hits in Michigan’s loss to Michigan State on Tuesday.
Hitters to Watch
Maryland
It was a big day on Tuesday for Sam Hojnar. He doubled in two in the first and was on the back end of back-to-back homers with Kevin Keister in Tuesday’s 11-4 win over Georgetown. Eddie Hacopian also tied a career-high on Tuesday by recording four hits. Additionally, Brayden Martin is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week following his heroics against Michigan State.
Michigan
The Wolverines are led by the previously mentioned Mitch Voit who when he is not pitching, has been raking at the plate. Voit has an OPS of .915 and leads the Wolverines in total at-bats. His .330 average and 35 hits lead the team, and his 12 doubles lead the team and ranks second in the conference and sixth nationally. Left fielder Stephen Hrustich currently leads the Big Ten with eight homers, and also has an OPS over 1.000. The former Northwestern Wildcat leads the team in runs, RBIs, slugging, walks, and on-base percentage.
Games one and two can be streamed on Big Ten Plus, while game three can be seen on the Big Ten Network. All Maryland baseball games are free to listen to on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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