The DIrty Terps were back in action this weekend but dropped their fourth consecutive Big Ten series, this time in Lincoln to Nebraska. Maryland knotted the series at one on Saturday to force a rubber game on Sunday, but were run-ruled by Nebraska. Maryland now finds themselves in a dogfight for one of the final Big Ten tournament positions following the series loss. Here is how the weekend played out.
Friday: Nebraska 6, Maryland 3
The Terps struck first on Friday night when Chris Hacopian homered in the third, but Nebraska took the lead scoring twice in the bottom half of the inning on a home run by Joshua Overbeek and a balk later in the inning. However, Maryland tied the game in the fourth on a Jacob Orr RBI single and would take the lead moments later on an RBI double by freshman Michael Iannazzo. The bottom of the fourth inning, however, was the last inning either team would score. Ben Columbus started it with a home run, and RBI doubles from Cayden Brumbaugh and Cole Evans made the score 6-3, which would end up being the final. Maryland was not able to put anyone on base in the final three innings. Despite not having his A stuff, Brett Sears was still dominate for Nebraska. He went seven innings allowing the three runs, while striking out eight. Logan Koester went just four in his first Friday night start allowing six runs. A positive in the game for Terps would be Trystan Sarcone and Andrew Johnson throwing the last four innings scoreless.
Saturday: Maryland 11, Nebraska 2
Maryland got their get back on Saturday with a romping of the Cornhuskers. That said romp started early when Eddie Hacopian sent the first pitch of the game out for a home run. The Terps got two more in the first on a two-run single by Jacob Orr. By the end of the third inning, the score was 5-0 Maryland. With the score at 6-0 in the fourth, Ben Columbus had Nebraska’s lone home run of the day to make it 6-1. Two home runs for Maryland in the sixth broke the game open: a two-run bomb from Elijah Lambros, and a three-run shot for Sam Hojnar. In his first weekend start for Maryland, Omar Melendez was fantastic going six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits. Kenny Lippman pitched the final three innings and had a scoreless outing.
Lam-BOMB!!! 💣
Terps 8
Neb 1#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/Bwl1SHqZh4— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) April 20, 2024
Sunday: Nebraska 16, Maryland 4
With a chance to steal a series from the Huskers, Nebraska came out and steamrolled the Terps in the rubber game. Tyler Stone got the scoring started early with a a two-run homer in the first, but Kevin Keister responded by hitting one out in the top of the second to make it 2-1. Three more Nebraska runs in the second inning would make the score 5-1. The Cornhuskers would break it open in the fourth inning scoring five more times, to put the score at 10-1. At 11-1 in the top of the fifth, Maryland began to show a little bit of fight with RBI singles from Brayden Martin, Sam Hojnar, and Michael Iannazzo, to put the game at 11-4. But another five spot for Nebraska in the sixth made it 16-4, and the game ended after Maryland went scoreless in the top of the seventh. Joey McMannis was roughed up throwing four innings and allowing eight earned runs.
A third run comes home in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Michael Iannazzo#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/Vs8CZKyYkR
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) April 21, 2024
Takeaways:
Desperation Time
The Terps’ are now in a tough spot. With just nine Big Ten games left, and having played their way out of at-large contention, Maryland will have to win the Big Ten Tournament to get to the NCAA Tournament. Winning the Big Ten tournament means the Terps’ will have to get there and finish in the top eight of the conference. Sitting right on the borderline, Maryland will have to finish strong to secure a spot in Omaha.
Outstanding Omar
Omar Melendez threw one of Maryland’s best games of the season on Saturday in his first weekend start and was brilliant. It would surprise a lot of people if he does not get another chance to start in the weekend rotation after providing a much-needed spark to the Terps’ pitching.
Excellent Eddie
It was an outstanding week for Eddie Hacopian who has hit four home runs in Maryland’s last five games. Hacopian was not seeing the power numbers that he had last year to start the season, but has been on a mid-season power binge for Maryland.
Up next:
Maryland will finish their ten-game road trip on Tuesday when they head to Harrisonburg to battle James Madison. They will then finally return home to The Bob for a three-game series with the Big Ten-leading Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois is 10-2 in Big Ten play, have won seven games in a row, and are coming off of a sweep of Northwestern. Tuesday’s game can be seen on ESPN+.
Related Links
Offense disappears as Maryland falls to Johns Hopkins, 7-5
Mike Locksley on practicing at Ballou, spring ball developments
VIP: Notes from Maryland football scrimmage, staff addition, four-star visitor (+)
