Each of Maryland’s three Big Ten series-openers at home has ended in the same fashion this season — with its opponent scoring the go-ahead run in the final inning of the game.
The Terps tried three different pitchers in the ninth inning in those games– none have been the answer. On Saturday against No. 15 Oregon, it was freshman Cristofer Cespedes’ turn.
The right-hander surrendered two runs in his first closing situation and squandered a one-run advantage. Maryland fell 5-4, dropping another opening game in a conference series.
“It’s Cespedes’ first time in that closing role,” Swope said postgame. “He’ll learn from it — the process, the feelings and the thoughts of what went into that ninth inning.”
The Terps (15-20, 3-10 Big Ten) have used a slew of different arms in closing situations this season — Andrew Johnson, Andrew Koshy, Omar Melendez, Joey McMannis and now Cespedes. In a year where Swope has emphasized the importance of players stepping into roles, none have firmly claimed the closer spot.
Saturday’s contest was the eighth time Maryland’s opponent has scored a go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later. That only happened five times in 2024.
[Maryland baseball notebook: Matt Swope’s mindset shift, pitchers working through struggles]
The difference was former closer Logan Berrier, Swope said — who earned seven saves and only blew two.
“You got to have roles in baseball … it’s a big role game [with] guys taking on those roles and being confident in them,” Swope said. “Logan was lights out for most of the season. That’s been a difference.”
Cespedes has been a reliable bullpen option for Maryland and is one of the top options for pitching coach Jimmy Jackson.
He tossed a scoreless eighth inning, but allowed the leadoff batter to walk in the ninth inning — who then stole second base. The tying run crossed two at-bats later. A deep sacrifice fly allowed another run to score in the frame.
“Just can’t walk the leadoff guy there in that ninth inning,” Swope said. “He’s got some of the best stuff. For the most part, he did a good job. We just got to be able to close them out there in the ninth.”
[Maryland baseball swept for first time this season with 11-0 loss to Illinois]
The freshman’s relief outing followed a seven-inning start for Kyle McCoy where the lefty tied his career-high of 106 pitches thrown. McCoy struck out seven and conceded only five hits, giving up three runs, two earned.
Maryland’s loss was eerily similar to the series opener against Northwestern two weeks ago, when all but one of the Terps’ runs came via home runs — but the Terps still fell late.
Against the Ducks (23-9, 11-5 Big Ten), Maryland used solo home runs from Eddie Hacopian, Jacob Orr and Aden Hill. Orr’s home run gave Maryland a brief one-run advantage in the bottom of the eighth.
But Maryland batted 1-13 with runners on and were 0-5 with runners in scoring position. Given multiple opportunities to put up big offensive innings, it couldn’t convert.
The Ducks weren’t much better, batting .250 with runners on, but got the timely hits in the ninth when they needed to. Maryland couldn’t record a baserunner in the final frame.
It’s another critical loss that pushed the Terps’ conference loss total to 10. They now face another potential series defeat.
“They’re not going to go in there and feel any better because they lost by one run when you’re leading going into the ninth,” Swope said. “The expectation every day coming out here is expecting to win.
