Maryland baseball will play their first home weekend series since the beginning of the month this weekend to open up conference play. Following a midweek win over James Madison, the Terps will welcome the Michigan State Spartans to The Bob. Here’s a look at how the weekend is shaping up.
Where We Are
Maryland
After finishing up the non-conference portion of their schedule an astounding 16-5, Maryland looks to keep it rolling in Big Ten play. The Terps won 9-5 over James Madison on Tuesday thanks in large part to Chris Hacopian’s eighth-inning grand slam, which put Maryland up 9-4. Maryland is also 7-0 at home this season, and will look to continue their mind-blowing streak of 22 consecutive Big Ten series wins, having not lost a conference series since April 2021 (at Nebraska). The Terps hold a 10-6 advantage all-time against Michigan State. The two teams have not matched up since 2021.
Michigan State
The Spartans will be making their first trip to College Park since 2017, and come into the weekend at 8-10. They have won 3 of their last 4, most recently a midweek win on Tuesday against Purdue Fort Wayne. Michigan State played some tough opponents in their non-conference schedule including the VCU Rams, Georgia Bulldogs, and still undefeated Florida State Seminoles. Despite their sub-500 record, Sparty has been able to have strong starting pitching for the vast majority of the season.
Series Schedule
*Due to expected inclement weather, Friday’s game has been moved up two hours to 4:00*
Friday: 4:00 – Joseph Dzierwa (2-1, 3.49 ERA) vs Kenny Lippman (1-2, 4.43 ERA)
Dzierwa was a 2022 All-Big Ten Freshman team recipient after going 6-4 with a 5.69 ERA last season. He has been excellent for Sparty this season allowing no more than three runs in every start and striking out at least six in every start. He threw into the eighth inning against Evansville last weekend allowing only two earned runs. After allowing two runs in his first three starts combined, Lippman has struggled in his last two starts allowing a combined eight runs and throwing just five and a third innings. He was able to bounce back against Portland after a rough first inning and went five, but the Terps will need more from their Friday night starter in conference play.
Saturday: 2:00 – Nick Powers (2-2, 2.65 ERA) vs Logan Koester (4-0, 2.79 ERA)
A senior from Flushing, Michigan, Powers has also had a solid start to the season for Michigan State. His command has been superb, allowing just five walks in his five starts this season. Most recently, he pitched last Saturday against Evansville and allowed just one run over seven innings. Koester has far and away been Maryland’s best pitcher this season. The George Washington transfer remains undefeated, and has thrown at least six innings in his last three starts. He allowed three earned over seven innings last time out against Portland. Koester’s command has also been outstanding, issuing only eight walks in his five starts.
Sunday: 1:00 – Nick Ferazzi (1-1, 8.18 ERA) vs Joey McMannis (0-0, 3.31 ERA)
Ferazzi is a transfer from Rhodes College where he went 10-5 in 23 career appearances, including two complete games. He’ll be making his second start of the season, as he’ll look to follow up a solid outing from last weekend against Evansville, going five innings. He has pitched from the bullpen a fair amount this season, and after a rough first outing against Seton Hall where he allowed five, he’ll look to solidify a spot in Sparty’s rotation. McMannis continues to look for his first collegiate win, and is coming off a career-high 83 pitches in his last start against Portland. In that start, he gave up two earned runs in five innings, but had some command issues walking five.
Hitters to Watch
Maryland
Chris Hacopian is looking like he is going to be a serious problem for Big Ten pitching. The freshman has nine hits in his last four games, and seven in his past two. His average is up to .349, and also has a homer in his last two games, including the aforementioned grand slam against JMU. Jacob Orr also continues to sizzle for Maryland, and he is coming off a great weekend out west. He had five hits and three RBIs in the series against Portland. The Terps’ captain Kevin Keister has also been swinging a good bat. He has a hit in eight of the team’s last nine games, and has two homers in that span as well.
Michigan State
The Spartans offensively are led by senior infielder Dillon Kark. Kark is currently riding a monstrous 13-game hitting streak and has a hit in all but two of the games he has played in this season, and has reached base in every game he has appeared in. Two other names to watch for Sparty are Jack Frank and Nick Williams. Frank is hitting .333, and has a hit in six of Michigan State’s last seven. Frank also has a 5-5 game this season, and a six RBI game, which came in a win at Georgia. Williams is a JUCO product and was named to the First Team NJCAA Division 1 Baseball All-America Team last season at Wabash College. He also helped Wabash reach back-to-back National Championship appearances. This season, he is hitting .316 and also has two home runs in his last four games.
All three games can be streamed on Big Ten Plus. All Maryland Baseball games are free to listen to on the Maryland Baseball Network.
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