Center fielder Zach Jancarski hoped for redemption when the Maryland baseball team traveled to play West Virginia on Tuesday.

The Mountaineers defeated the Terps twice in the NCAA Winston-Salem Regional last year, ending their season. For Jancarski, this history added an uncommon fire to an otherwise routine nonconference matchup in early May.

“Any time a team ends your season, it’s a little bit more of an incentive when you play them,” Jancarski told Maryland Baseball Network in a pregame interview. “Nothing too crazy, but at the same time, having that in the back of our minds to go all nine innings here.”

[Read more: Maryland baseball’s comeback falls short in 9-5 loss to West Virginia]

But problems in the first two frames ignited an 8-0 start for West Virginia and buried any hopes of revenge. The Terps lost, 9-5, for their eighth midweek defeat this campaign.

Catcher Justin Vought’s throwing error in the opening inning allowed the Mountaineers’ fourth run to trot home — Maryland’s third error of the afternoon. It was an example of the kind of play that separates this year’s team — which now sits six games under .500 — from the squad that went 38-23 and was one of the last teams in the NCAA tournament field a season ago.

“The guys fought hard. I didn’t think they checked it in,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “But we just put ourselves in too big of a hole.”

[Read more: Maryland baseball’s batting practice approach fueled its series win against Michigan State]

Before the teams met twice in the postseason, the Terps toppled the Mountaineers in a 2017 regular-season game that had many of the same players.

Jancarski recalled West Virginia jumping out to a three-run lead in the first inning. Maryland pulled ahead with a five-run seventh and held on for a 7-6 victory.

Tuesday’s contest had a similar arc — but the opposite ending. Before Jancarski could come to the plate, his team was already trailing by four. After his second-inning groundout, the Mountaineers piled on four more runs.

“Kind of had that similar feel to start the game,” Jancarski said. “Obviously, not ideal. We didn’t want to go down eight runs by any means.”

But unlike last season, when Maryland won many wild, high-scoring midweek games, the team has struggled to manage the same high-wire act this year. The Terps — who currently sit in 10th place in the Big Ten — would have to finish in the top eight to make the conference tournament, which would give them a chance to win at least 30 games for their seventh consecutive season.

A five-run sixth inning tightened the game, giving Maryland hope for a comeback win. Jancarski’s RBI single started the scoring, and third baseman Taylor Wright’s three-run double continued the rally.

Still, the Terps couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

Consecutive walks to begin the seventh brought the tying run to the plate, but shortstop AJ Lee was thrown out trying to steal third as left fielder Marty Costes struck out. Maryland was unable to muster another hit following Wright’s double.

So, the Mountaineers remained a thorn in the Terps’ side. Despite Jancarski’s hope for revenge, the same issues that have hampered Maryland consistently in 2018 came up again in Morgantown.

“It showed some resiliency from our offense,” Jancarski said. “I thought we did a pretty good job for that one inning, and then continued to just battle with it. Still didn’t come out with that win, but I’m proud of our guys for the fight after the really rocky start.”