Maryland baseball left its weekend series against Northwestern with more questions about the remainder of the campaign for the second straight season. The Terps dropped two of three games against the Wildcats, like they did last year in Evanston, for their fifth series loss of the season.

The weekend losses puts Maryland (14-14, 3-6 Big Ten) in a hole if it wants to reach postseason play. The series continued inconsistent play between its bats and pitchers, and an inability to win close games.

“We’re all trying our best. We’re staying up all hours of the night trying to figure it out,” coach Matt Swope said after Saturday’s series-clinching loss. “It’s been a very awkward year. Been an odd year for the level of talent that we have.”

Maryland’s inconsistency was on full display in its series against Northwestern (12-13, 5-4 Big Ten) and midweek game against George Mason.

The Terps averaged just two runs per game in their previous three-game set at Washington, their lowest in a series since 2019. Swope credited the lack of production to wet weather in Seattle.

They appeared to break out of their slump with a 15-run explosion against George Mason but were then outhit by eight in Friday’s 6-5 loss to Northwestern. Four of Maryland’s five runs came from a pair of home runs.

The offense showed more life on Saturday, plating eight runs on 14 hits, and delivered one of their biggest offensive performances of the year on Sunday with a 22-11 win. Maryland set a program-record for runs scored in a Big Ten game.

[Maryland baseball blows late lead, loses 6-5 to Northwestern]

“We’ve been up and down,” Swope said after Sunday’s win. “The guys are still playing hard, they’re still fighting … but for the most part this season, I wouldn’t say I would be happy with the offensive effort overall most of the year.”

Saturday’s loss epitomized the Terps’ struggles to have their pitching and hitting clicking at the same time. The Wildcats erupted for 18 runs — the most Maryland has allowed this season — thwarting Maryland’s improved offensive showing.

Even when a starter performs well, the bullpen hasn’t always provided the necessary support.

Redshirt sophomore Kyle McCoy only allowed two runs over six innings in his Friday start. But the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.

Freshman Cristofer Cespedes gave up one run in two relief innings. Sophomore Joey McMannis surrendered a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth frame, and senior Andrew Johnson allowed a game-winning solo shot in the tenth.

Even in Sunday’s record-breaking performance, freshman Jake Yeager gave up a grand slam and solo home run in the fifth inning. Sophomore Andrew Koshy and Andrew Johnson conceded five more runs before the Terps’ 11-run advantage run-ruled the Wildcats.

Shortcomings in close games

Swope was brief with reporters following Friday’s loss to Northwestern, the sixth time this season the Terps’ opponent scored a go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later. They haven’t had the same late-game success from a year ago that earned them the moniker ‘Cardiac Terps.’

[Maryland baseball’s Alex Calarco finds stability, success after tumultuous start to career]

In 2024, Maryland won 14 of its 34 games after scoring a go-ahead run in the final three frames of a game, with ten coming in the ninth inning or later. It’s scored a go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later just three times this season, and haven’t claimed a win in three extra-inning games.

Swope pinned the late-game issues to not having a cemented closer like 2024’s Logan Berrier — who recorded seven saves and only blew two.

“We don’t have those defined roles of somebody to go to, and that’s why we are where we are,” Swope said. “Somebody’s got to take the bull by the horn and earn that.”

Outlook for the rest of the season

Maryland currently sits outside the 12-team Big Ten tournament with seven conference series left. Oregon (20-7, 8-4 Big Ten), Penn State (17-10, 6-6 Big Ten) and Indiana (15-13, 6-6 Big Ten) will pose challenges, but the other conference opponents on the schedule have a combined 12-24 conference record.

Senior catcher Alex Calarco noted the Terps are embracing the pressure ahead of them. They’re focusing on the little things, like cleaning their locker room every day, to put themselves in better positions, Calarco said.

They’ve also worked to maintain positive vibes. After being run-ruled in Saturday’s loss, fellow catchers Devin Russell and Aiden Driscoll opened a dance circle ahead of Sunday’s game in the locker room. A Maryland big hat has made appearances in the dugout as the Terps’ home run celebration.

“[We] got embarrassed the last few days and that’s not who we are,” Calarco said Sunday. “Huge chip on the shoulder now, our backs are against the wall. We understand the position … It’s time to execute in every aspect.”