A poor outing from Brayden Ryan dug Maryland baseball into an early hole Wednesday against Georgetown. In their series opener at Penn State on Friday, the Terps built their own quick lead.
Brayden Martin singled on the first pitch of the game, and Chris Hacopian homered on the second. Eddie Hacopian tacked on a third run with a solo shot before Penn State could record a single out.
The Terps parlayed their first-inning surge into a 7-4 win over the Nittany Lions, marking only their second Friday win in a Big Ten series this season.
“It was one of the first times all season where we’ve punched early on a really good pitcher,” coach Matt Swope said.
Poor pitching has hindered Maryland’s explosive offense all season.
The Terps ranked second in runs, third in home runs and fifth in OPS in the Big Ten entering Friday. Catcher Alex Calarco and designated hitter Hollis Porter are both top-five in the conference in home runs, yet struggles from nearly the entire pitching staff have squandered a productive batting order.
Kyle McCoy, the Terps’ only pitcher with an ERA under 5.00 who’s made more than one appearance, backed up Maryland’s early scoring burst against the Nittany Lions with two shutout frames.
“Getting three [runs] in the first made me very, very confident,” McCoy said. “I know when I’m on and I do my thing, three is more than enough.”
Then Maryland’s defense began to falter.
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After inducing flyouts and groundouts early on, McCoy allowed more baserunners in the middle innings. Penn State scored two runs in the third after a pair of infield errors, combined with the 6-foot-6 left-hander allowing some hard contact.
McCoy committed an error of his own in the fourth when Penn State’s Joe Jaconski attempted to steal third. There appeared to be a miscommunication between McCoy and Jacob Orr, who was covering second base but didn’t seem to expect McCoy’s throw. The ball dribbled into the outfield, allowing Jaconski to score and narrowing Maryland’s lead to 4-3.
The Terps rebuilt their four-run lead in the fifth and sixth innings despite their defensive mishaps.
Calarco walked to open the fifth inning, another hallmark for Maryland this season. The Terps lead the Big Ten in walks, and Calarco ranks second on the team.
Orr doubled for his second hit of the day, putting Terps on second and third. Porter and outfielder Aden Hill each drove in a run to grow the Terps’ advantage to three.
Maryland immediately took advantage of a Penn State pitching change in the sixth, loading the bases after a single, a wild pitch, a walk and a textbook bunt from Eddie Hacopian.
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Then, Calarco — maybe the last player Penn State wanted to see in that spot — came to the plate. Martin scored on a wild pitch during the at-bat, but Calarco grounded into a double play and Orr flew out to end the inning and Maryland’s opportunity to break the game open.
McCoy held steady during the Terps’ scoring spurts again, finishing the day with no earned runs in six innings.
“[I was] able to get ahead with the fastball, and the changeup felt great today,” McCoy said. “I think it was my most consistent outing so far with it.”
Logan Hastings relieved McCoy and struggled with his command. The freshman allowed a pair of walks — his 27th and team-high 28th of the season — in the seventh and eighth innings, though he escaped surrendering only one run.
Hastings allowed two runners in all three innings he pitched, but held on and closed out the game for his second save of the year.
Maryland’s Friday victory is a solid start to a pivotal series, but it guarantees nothing. The Terps beat Nebraska last Friday before the Cornhuskers outscored them 28-7 over the next two games.
Facing a tough path to the Big Ten Tournament, Maryland needs a strong finish to the weekend.
