Eddie Hacopian needed only one pitch to punch Maryland baseball onto the scoreboard. The junior knocked a solo home run into left field to give the Terps the first score against Delaware on Tuesday.
He kept his head low as he rounded the bases. The Terps claimed just one win in five games last week. The Terps’ game against the Blue Hens was a chance to get back on track.
Hacopian’s first inning blast jump-started that effort. Maryland won, 11-10, with a strong offensive showing. It was the most runs the Terps scored in their past four games. But defensive and pitching struggles persisted in the win.
Hacopian was one of the lone bright spots in the Terps’ series loss to Northwestern. The first baseman batted .571 while notching four RBIs and recording two home runs on Sunday. He added two more RBIs and two hits in Tuesday’s win.“He’s coming into his own from a confidence standpoint,” coach Matt Swope said. “He knows exactly who he is. He’s one of the best hitters in the league.”
The junior’s early hit was followed by an RBI single from Brayden Martin in the second inning. The Terps then compiled a six-run third inning to boost their early lead to seven.
[Elijah Lambros’ catch saved Maryland baseball’s weekend. It’s still spiraling downwards.]
Alex Calarco began the run with a bases-loaded walk before Sam Hojnar crossed home on a wild pitch. Michael Ianazzo added his second RBI of the season with a single to left field before Martin added his second RBI of the game. Jordan Crosland capped off the run with a two-run homer into left field, his third of the season.
Ianazzo made just his third start of the season against the Blue Hens after making his first two against Northwestern. Crosland made his first start in over a week after seeing just one at-bat in the past week.
Maryland (24-14) compiled another three-run effort in the fifth inning. Chris Hacopian drove home two with a double into left field before Eddie Hacopian brought him home with a single.
“I’m really just more happy how we came out and scored a bunch of runs early,” Swope said.
Many of Maryland’s defensive struggles persisted against the Blue Hens. Meade Johnson tossed a successful start, allowing just two earned runs in four innings, but two misplayed balls in the fourth tacked on two extra runs.
Alex Calarco dropped a pop-up mere feet away from home plate, allowing a runner to score. Michael Iannazzo dropped a foul ball and a Delaware (18-17) runner scored later that at-bat. Both plays would have ended the fourth inning.
[Maryland baseball’s revamped pitching staff is delivering lousy results of late]
Nate Haberthier conceded four runs, including a two-run home run, in less than an inning of relief.
The middle inning spurt made it a three-run game entering the sixth, as Kenny Lippman came on for his first relief appearance this season. The right-hander gave up a two-run shot to make it a one score game.
Lippman’s brief bullpen stint could point to a potential shift in the rotation. Usual Tuesday starter Ryan Van Buren tossed 2.1 innings of relief in the win before Logan Berrier secured the final two outs. Omar Melendez, a fixture in the midweek bullpen, did not appear at all.
Swope confirmed after the game that Logan Koester will now assume the Friday starter role, Lippman will shift to the bullpen and Joey McMannis will remain in the rotation. Swope didn’t commit to whether McMannis would start Saturday or Sunday.
The Terps completed the first step of a winning week. A date with Nebraska, the No. 16 team in the country according to RPI, lies ahead this weekend.
