Maryland baseball: flashes of firepower derailed by Inconsistency during pivotal stretch

henrylilienfeld
May 2
3 min read

The Maryland Terrapins men's baseball team entered late April with hopes of turning a turbulent season around. Over the course of eight games against Indiana, Towson, Nebraska, and Georgetown, the Terps showed glimpses of explosive potential – but also exposed deep-rooted struggles that have defined their 2025 campaign. The result: just three wins in eight outings, a missed opportunity to seize momentum in Big Ten play, and growing questions about the team’s postseason viability.

Power at the Plate, More Problems on the Mound

If there’s one constant in Maryland’s recent stretch, it’s power. The Terps showcased their offensive ceiling with grand slams from Eddie Hacopian, Elijah Lambros, Jacob Orr, and Chris Hacopian, and multiple multi-homer performances from Hollis Porter – whose 18 home runs now rank him eighth on Maryland’s single-season list.

Maryland’s 17-4 run-rule dismantling of Indiana and 11-1 rout of Towson exemplified what this lineup can do when it clicks. Against Nebraska, Liam Willson broke through with his first home run of the season in a 12-5 Friday night win – Maryland’s first Big Ten series opener win of the year. Even in losses, Porter and Chris Hacopian continued to deliver key RBIs, with Porter driving in five against Georgetown alone.

But for all the fireworks, Maryland’s bats often went cold in critical moments. Missed opportunities with the bases loaded against Nebraska, a ninth-inning rally cut short at Georgetown, and long stretches of silence in series finales have proved costly. The offense could ignite quickly – but too often, it fizzled just as fast.

Bullpen Breakdown and Another Sunday Slide

Maryland’s Achilles’ heel, though, wasn’t at the plate – it was and has been on the mound. The Terps’ bullpen repeatedly faltered, turning strong starts into collapses. In the Indiana series opener, Kyle McCoy exited with a 6-1 lead in the eighth inning, only to watch it evaporate in a 7-6 walk-off loss. Against Nebraska, the team allowed 21 runs in a Sunday rubber match – the most surrendered in a game since 2023.

Sunday games in particular remain a pain point: Maryland is now 2-9 in Sunday matchups this season, and both Big Ten series in this stretch (Indiana, Nebraska) ended in mercy-rule losses.

Despite McCoy’s continued steadiness and midweek starter Brayden Ryan finding rhythm in non-conference outings, Maryland’s staff has lacked reliable depth. Six pitchers were used in Sunday’s 21-5 loss to Nebraska – none lasting more than three innings. The pattern repeated against Georgetown, where a shaky start and inconsistent relief doomed the Terps in an 11-8 loss.

A Team at a Crossroads

At 20-26 (6-15 Big Ten), the Terps now find themselves staring down a narrowing path to the Big Ten Tournament. Coach Matt Swope has repeatedly emphasized accountability and focus, especially after lopsided losses.

“There’s not much to say,” Swope admitted after Sunday’s Nebraska game. “That wasn’t really a baseball game.”

Still, there are reasons for guarded optimism because Maryland continues to get production from its veteran hitters. If the bullpen can stabilize – or simply just not mess it up – this team has the offensive firepower to play spoiler down the stretch.

But time is running out. The Terps have shown they can compete, and now, they need to show they can win.

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