After the Maryland baseball team’s practice Tuesday, assistant head coach Rob Vaughn described the Terps’ offensive numbers as “average.”
The Terps entered this weekend series against Purdue with the second-worst batting average in the Big Ten. They continued to struggle in their 7-1 loss Friday, going 2-for-12 from the plate with runners on base.
Designated hitter Madison Nickens said the offense was disappointed after that defeat, so it came out the following day with motivation to rebound. The Terps racked up 11 hits Saturday, and they continued that momentum in the rubber match Sunday.
Maryland went 7-for-14 with runners on base in the series finale as it defeated Purdue, 11-3, at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium to clinch the series victory.
Freshman right-hander Hunter Parsons made his first-career weekend start as coach John Szefc sat right-hander Taylor Bloom, a usual weekend starter, because of a hamstring injury. Szefc said Bloom’s hamstring was at 70 percent, but he wouldn’t start a pitcher unless he’s at least 90 percent.
It didn’t matter that the Terps (21-18, 7-5) didn’t have Bloom, though. Parsons, who won Big Ten Freshman of the Week after his last start April 6, allowed two runs in six innings.
The Boilermakers (7-30, 2-13) got on the board first when right fielder Alec Olund hit an RBI single in the second. But Maryland blew the game open in the third with five runs.
The Terps loaded the bases with no outs, and Nickens hit an RBI single, prompting Purdue to remove right-hander Shane Bryant.
And the Terps didn’t let up against right-hander Tanner Andrews. Second baseman Nick Dunn hit an RBI double to score two runs, and Maryland scored again on an error by the Boilermakers second baseman.To finish off the frame, first baseman Kevin Biondic used a sacrifice bunt to drive in Dunn.
In the following frame, right fielder Anthony Papio, who entered this weekend with one home run, hit his second long shot in as many days.
Purdue cut into the Terps’ lead by adding two more runs, but Maryland put up its second five-run inning in the seventh with the help of four singles and two errors to seal the victory.
