Maryland baseball drops another conference series as Matt Swope looks for answers

henrylilienfeld
Apr 14
3 min read

Updated: Apr 18

Despite glimpses of promise and standout individual performances, the Maryland Terrapins baseball team failed to capture a Big Ten series win once again, dropping two of three games to No. 15 Oregon this past weekend in College Park. The series was a microcosm of the Terps’ season so far – flashes of potential dimmed by inconsistency and late-game collapse.

Game 1: Late-Game Collapse Spoils McCoy’s Gem

Maryland opened the series with a narrow 5-4 loss on Saturday, despite a strong showing from ace Kyle McCoy. The junior held the Ducks to three runs over seven innings, repeatedly working out of jams.

McCoy’s efforts were matched by timely hitting. Eddie Hacopian and Jacob Orr both homered to help Maryland tie the game and eventually take a one-run lead heading into the ninth. But freshman Cristofer Cespedes, seeking his first career save, couldn’t seal it. Oregon broke a four-inning scoring drought with a pair of clutch hits to reclaim the lead and steal the game in the last inning.

“You know what you are gonna get with Kyle,” head coach Matt Swope said. “He’s an ultra competitor.” Yet even McCoy’s stellar day wasn’t enough to break Maryland’s cycle of late-inning letdowns.

Game 2: A Rare Rout for the Terps

In the first half of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Terps bounced back with a decisive 12-2 victory. Patience at the plate defined the win, with Maryland drawing 10 walks and capitalizing on nearly every opportunity.

Alex Calarco, who was intentionally walked twice in the game, finally got his chance in the sixth and delivered, driving in key runs. Jacob Orr followed with a bases-clearing double that busted the game wide open. Freshman Logan Hastings threw 3.2 scoreless innings in relief – a career-best outing – to help seal the mercy-rule win.

Game 3: Another Missed Opportunity

With the series up for grabs, Maryland stumbled again in Sunday’s finale. Despite a 2-0 first-inning lead off a Hollis Porter RBI single, the bullpen couldn’t hold back Oregon’s offense. The Ducks scored ten unanswered runs from the fifth inning on, including home runs from Mason Neville and Jacob Walsh, en route to a 13-3 blowout.

Jason Reitz dominated Maryland’s lineup, striking out 11 over seven innings. The loss dropped Maryland to 4-11 in Big Ten play, still winless in conference series’ this season.

Matt Swope's Search for Answers

Second-year head coach Matt Swope finds himself in increasingly difficult waters, and in an even hotter seat. A former Terp himself, Swope’s emotional investment in the program is undeniable. But after a promising 34-win debut season, Maryland has hit what Swope described as “rock bottom” following a loss to UMBC a couple of weeks ago – ranked near the bottom of Division I in RPI.

“Probably in 13 years [at Maryland], this is rock bottom,” Swope told Michael Howes of The Diamondback following the loss.

While he’s recruited top talent – including flipping shortstop Chris Hacopian from Wake Forest – Swope has yet to find a winning formula. Maryland ranks third in the Big Ten in runs per game, but near the bottom in ERA. Pitching inconsistency, coupled with untimely defensive lapses, has defined their season.

A New Mindset

Recently, Swope has attempted a shift in tone. After an 11-7 loss to Georgetown last Tuesday – Maryland’s fifth straight at the time – he told reporters he’s “trying to be positive” and “throttle it back.” The team has embraced a Ted Lasso-style clubhouse, even placing “Believe” signs in the locker room, according to Howes.

Pitching coach Jimmy Jackson has also implemented data-driven development methods, using Trackman reports and tailored goal sheets for each pitcher. While Maryland still holds one of the conference’s worst ERAs, Jackson remains optimistic: “They all work hard... that’s what keeps it easier for me,” he told Howes.

The Road Ahead

With six Big Ten series left, the Terps’ path to the postseason grows narrower by the week. A talented but inconsistent team, Maryland must find a way to string together complete games – something it has rarely done this season.

Still, Swope remains steadfast in his values.

“As long as I’m coaching here... we’re going to play hard,” Swope told Howes. “I want to put the nine guys out there that play really hard, and I can promise you that, but nothing else.”

Maryland will play Mount St. Mary's in a solo game on Tuesday before traveling to Indiana for a series against the Hoosiers this weekend.

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