It took Chris Hacopian three at-bats to hammer his first home run of the season.
Hacopian watched as he skied one over the left field wall at Detyens Field for a grand slam — giving Maryland baseball a five-run advantage in the fourth inning.
The Terps’ dugout left their benches and spilled onto the field with Hacopian for the first home run celebration of the year. After trailing by one earlier in the frame, Hacopian’s blast shifted the momentum entirely.
Maryland cruised to an 6-3 victory over UAB following the grand slam in the Terps’ season opener on Friday. Hacopian walked in his three other plate appearances, starting his sophomore season similarly to his Big Ten All-Freshman campaign in 2024.
“It wasn’t our cleanest performance today, but we got the job done and got the win,” Hacopian said. “The boys are definitely feeling good right now, ready to go tomorrow.”
The sophomore was second on the team with 15 home runs last year. Following the season, coach Matt Swope selected Hacopian as one of Maryland’s four players on the newly-formed leadership council — the sophomore being the youngest of the group.
Swope had Hacopian and the rest of the leadership council read the book Mind Gym. He didn’t want the sophomore’s sole focus to be improving on the field — he challenged him to build mental strength as well.
[‘He’s a psycho’: Chris Hacopian’s drive has him ready to be the face of Maryland baseball]
Having played a full collegiate season, Hacopian said he can now visualize key moments that may happen throughout the year. That allows him to stay prepared and not be caught off guard.
“Don’t look forward, don’t look back. Just live every moment for what it is,” Hacopian said at media day. “If I play in the moment, I’ll probably play better because I’m focused on what I’m actually doing.”
The Terps had struggled against Blazers left-hander Cole Cheatham prior to the fourth inning. Maryland mustered only two hits while the senior tallied five strikeouts entering the frame.
UAB took the lead in the top half of the fourth after third baseman Todd Clay lined an RBI single through the left side — the only run surrendered by redshirt sophomore left-hander Kyle McCoy in his start.
Eddie Hacopian and Elijah Lambros hit RBI singles to give Maryland its first lead in the bottom of the fourth, ending Cheatham’s start after 3 ⅓ innings. Hacopian took right-hander Ryan Olson deep in his first at-bat of relief.
McCoy’s outing ended after four innings. In his first start since June 2023 due to injury, the redshirt sophomore struck out four and walked none, allowing three hits.
[Kyle McCoy’s lengthy recovery transformed him. He’s ready to be Maryland baseball’s ace.]
“It’s been a long time. I’ve been dreaming of this day for a long time now,” McCoy said. “Being able to just go out there and be able to play again, I’m so grateful for it
McCoy added a sweeper during the fall, which he characterized as a mix of a slurve and a curveball. The lefty hopes it can broaden his pitching arsenal this season.
He joins Lambros and the Hacopian brothers on Swope’s leadership council.
“They’re keeping the energy up in the dugout,” Swope said. “Super proud of them kind of leading the way.”
Senior Ryan Van Buren tossed three scoreless innings following McCoy’s start, surrendering one run. Left-hander Andrew Johnson gave up two runs in the eighth inning before a shutout in the ninth.
The Terps’ starting lineup featured three transfers — first baseman Hollis Porter, left fielder Liam Willson and right fielder Aden Hill. There were no freshmen. Two first-years played in last season’s opener.
The trio struggled in their Maryland debuts, going 0-12 at the plate. Porter, a top junior college transfer, struck out four times on Friday.
Instead, it took the offensive performances of Maryland’s returners to seal its first victory of the year.
