In the second inning of the Maryland baseball team’s 10-7 loss to No. 12 Louisville on Saturday night, left fielder Madison Nickens made a leaping catch at the wall.

Cardinals third baseman Drew Ellis hit a deep fly ball with the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning, but after the Terps committed four errors in the frame that enabled the Cardinals to score four runs, Nickens made a play the Terps had been looking for the entire inning.

The inning seemed close to ending when Louisville right fielder Colin Lyman popped up down the third base line, but Terps third baseman AJ Lee dropped the ball, which prolonged the frame. Then, Lyman struck out swinging but reached first base on a wild pitch.

A disastrous defensive performance buried the Terps in their first matchup against a ranked opponent this season. The Terps committed five errors and weren’t helped by their pitchers.

Much like they did in their season-opening loss to Ball State on Friday, the Terps were unable to generate enough offense. Saturday, they needed it to overcome the defensive miscues.

The Terps left 14 runners on base, but cut their deficit to 5-4 with a two-run fourth inning behind RBIs from second baseman Nick Dunn and first baseman Brandon Gum.

But Louisville scored five runs in the fourth, once again fueled by Maryland’s defensive mistakes. Though the Terps scored a combined three runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Cardinals right-hander Lincoln Henzman kept them off the board in the final 2.2 innings.

As was the case in the first game of the Clearwater Tournament, the Terps received a short start. Right-hander Taylor Bloom lasted just three innings, allowing six runs, three of which were earned, and walking three. Right-hander Hunter Parsons allowed four runs in 3.2 innings, and left-hander Andrew Miller didn’t allow a hit in the final 1.1 innings.

Still, despite a 2-for-3 night from Gum and a three RBI performance from Dunn, the Terps were unable to complete the comeback.

Nickens’ catch in left field was an anomaly. The rest of the defense fell apart in key moments.