Maryland baseball surrenders six runs in the third inning of its 6-2 loss to Illinois

Maryland baseball left-hander Tyler Blohm was a strike away from avoiding Illinois’ third-inning offensive burst that proved to be the difference in the Fighting Illini’s 6-2 win over coach John Szefc’s squad Saturday afternoon.

After allowing two runs to score, Blohm was ahead in the count, 0-2, against catcher Mark Skonieczny. With runners on second and third, Skonieczny fouled a ball back behind the screen. But catcher Dan Maynard was called for catcher’s interference, loading the bases.

Maynard and Blohm stared at the ground after the sequence, while Blohm paced in front of the mound to regroup. But a bases-loaded walk to designated hitter Casey Dodge gave Illinois a 3-0 lead, and left fielder Bren Spillane’s three-RBI double gave the Fighting Illini a six-run advantage.

It was a familiar pattern for Illinois, which has scored more runs in the third inning than any other frame. But Blohm’s struggles were uncharacteristic. He entered Saturday’s start with a 2.53 ERA and tied for the most wins in the country by a freshman.

Blohm pitched 2.2 innings, as assistant coach Ryan Fecteau elected right-hander John Murphy to finish the third following Spillane’s double. Blohm allowed six hits and six runs while walking and striking out two in his second-shortest start of the season. It was his shortest since he pitched 4.2 innings against Nebraska on April 9.

Still, the Terps had numerous chances to come from behind, a feature that’s become the team’s specialty throughout the second half this season. But in the battle of freshmen starters, Fighting Illini right-hander Cyrillo Watson was dominant, preventing a late Terps rally.

Maryland tallied just three hits before right fielder Marty Costes’ RBI double down the left field line in the sixth scored the Terps first run, but Watson prevented the spurt from turning into the type of extensive inning that has fueled the comebacks. Left fielder Madison Nickens doubled home a run in the seventh, but Watson was able to work around that, too.

The Terps managed just five hits and two runs over Watson’s seven innings.

Murphy kept the game close after Blohm departed, not allowing a run over 3.1 innings, and left-hander Tayler Stiles and right-hander Jamal Wade similarly kept the Fighting Illini off the board. But Illinois right-hander Ryan Schmitt didn’t allow a hit in the last two innings to even the series entering Sunday’s finale.