After Maryland baseball second baseman Nick Dunn hit a two-RBI single in the third inning of the Terps’ 9-2 loss to No. 13 North Carolina on Tuesday, right-hander Mike Rescigno was confident more offensive production would follow.
Right-hander Hunter Parsons, Tuesday’s starter, departed after allowing six runs against William & Mary on March 7, but the offense helped secure a 9-8 come-from-behind win over the Tribe.
But in Parsons’ latest outing — he allowed four runs (two earned) in 1.2 innings — Maryland’s lineup couldn’t overcome their pitcher’s poor start. Though it wasn’t the Terps’ only scoring opportunity, Dunn’s single was their lone hit in the loss, snapping their eight-game winning streak.
“It’s difficult for your offense to win an 8-2 game in a place like this,” coach John Szefc said. “It’s probably not going to happen. In order to stay with these guys, you have to pitch well and play very good defense and we didn’t do either one of those.”
By the time third baseman AJ Lee prepared for his second at-bat of the game in the fifth inning, the Terps were facing a six-run deficit. Parsons allowed four runs, while right-hander Ryan Hill allowed four runs in relief. Still, the Tar Heels gave the Terps opportunities to score.
Dunn’s two-RBI single came after North Carolina right-hander Tyler Baum walked Lee and catcher Justin Morris consecutively. In the sixth inning, right fielder Marty Costes and first baseman Brandon Gum drew back-to-back one-out walks. But a pair of strikeouts ended the Terps’ best opportunity to inch closer.
“I don’t think they had any master plan,” Costes said. “They made pitches in certain counts. That’s the name of the game sometimes. This was their day.”
Maryland’s two runs were the fewest they’ve scored since March 3 when they defeated Notre Dame, 4-3, to begin the winning streak. The Terps also struck out 11 times Tuesday.
Though Baum and the Tar Heels bullpen were able to limit Maryland’s offense, Szefc said the lineup alone cannot be blamed for the loss because of the early deficit. Despite the Terps’ previous comebacks, he said doing so on the road against a ranked team is a more difficult task.
“I know it sounds like you’re putting a lot on the pitching, but that’s what pitching is for,” Szefc said. “It’s one thing playing catchup at home, not to knock the guys we played, but they’re not quite on the level of these guys. That’s just the reality of what it is.”
When Rescigno departed after pitching scoreless fifth and sixth innings, he expected the offense to rally in its final few at-bats. But it didn’t happen against the Tar Heels.
“I never count out our offense,” Rescigno said. “Those guys can put up six or seven real quick as they’ve done the last few games. I’m not really worried about them. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of success this weekend against Princeton.”
