Maryland pitcher Jack Wren watched as his former Marist teammate Ethan Conrad launched a three-run home run into left center. Conrad’s knock broke a brief tie and gave Wake Forest a three-run lead in the eighth.
First baseman Jack Winnay only needed one more pitch the next at-bat to replicate Conrad’s effort — hammering a solo shot over the right field wall.
The hits were part of a five-run seventh inning for Wake Forest, breaking the game open as Maryland’s bats were unusually quiet.
Despite a strong start from freshman Logan Hasting, Maryland baseball dropped the final game of the weekend to No. 12 Wake Forest, 9-1. The Terps (6-5) exit the weekend after a pair of victories against Princeton and a comeback win on Saturday against the Demon Deacons.
“We got to build on this this weekend moving forward,” coach Matt Swope said. “We’re slightly above average team right now, but I think we’re more talented than that. ”
In his first collegiate start, Hastings surrendered only four hits and struck out seven. The right-hander walked six but stranded eight runners.
[Maryland baseball storms back to beat No. 12 Wake Forest, 9-8, earns marquee nonconference win]
The Demon Deacons scored the first run of the game in the fifth inning, Hastings’ final frame. After their first two batters were retired, designated hitter Kade Lewis roped an RBI single through the right side and brought home Winnay from second.
Hastings was the 2024 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year at Huntingtown High School, where he spent all four years on the varsity squad.
Hastings and fellow freshmen Jake Yeager and Ryan Bailey have been key pieces to the Terps’ pitching staff, combining for seven appearances in 11 games. Yeager has served as the midweek starter.
Pitching coach Jimmy Jackson said the coaching staff made it clear to the trio that they’d play key roles in 2025 — even as freshmen.
“He knows his stuff is going to play at this level, which for a lot of freshmen, that’s a difficult part,” Jackson said. “ Logan has a big-time future for us, that’s for sure.”
The Terps’ offense couldn’t back Hastings’ performance with Wake Forest starter Blake Morningstar on the mound. In six innings, the sophomore limited Maryland to three hits and one walk while matching Hastings’ seven strikeouts. Morningstar retired all three batters in four frames, including the first three of Sunday’s game.
[Freshman Jake Yeager flashed potential in first Maryland baseball start]
Maryland’s offense began producing when Morningstar exited after six innings. Designated hitter Michael Iannazzo and right fielder Aden Hill drew walks to open the seventh, prompting Wake Forest coach Tom Walter to pull Nate Brittain after nine pitches.
The Terps loaded the bases in the first at-bat against right-hander Luke Schmolke, but registered only one run in the frame. Freshman shortstop Colin Gibbs lined an RBI groundout to first base that created enough time for Hill to score from third. It was the lone run Maryland scored.
“That was really our only opportunity to kind of capitalize,” Swope said. “For the most part, it was a pretty good baseball game.”
The Demon Deacons tallied three more runs in the eighth with Devin Milberg on the mound for Maryland.
The pair of games against Wake Forest were the first meetings between the teams since the 2023 NCAA Regionals, where the Terps fell 21-6 before being eliminated by George Mason the following day.
Former Maryland pitching coach Corey Muscara has served on Wake Forest’s staff in the same role since the 2022 season.
The meetings were also a reunion for outfielder Liam Willson and pitcher Andrew Koshy, who both transferred to Maryland after one year at Wake Forest. Shortstop Chris Hacopian committed to the Demon Deacons as a high school freshman but flipped his commitment to Maryland as a senior.
Maryland’s next game is Wednesday against James Madison (5-6). The Terps took both meetings against the Dukes in 2024, who have gotten off to a slow start this season.
“There’s some things to be left desired,” Swope said. “It’s time to step on the gas pedal looking forward to this week, just getting back out there and competing.”
