After barely squeaking out a walk-off victory on the first game of its series against Wagner, Maryland baseball needed to set the tone early in its Saturday matchup.
The Terps gave up four runs through five innings to Wagner, a team that ranks 194th in Division I in runs scored, could have been a cause for concern. But by that time, the Terps had scored 13 of their own.
The bats were rolling Saturday for Maryland baseball. Eight Terps drove in runs in a 21-4 rout over Wagner at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium, as they secured a series victory in their first homestand of the year.
“We came out with the same, you know, everybody come out together and work hard,” Martin said. “We keep the same mentality and keep going to tomorrow.”
Pitcher Evan Smith got the start in his first appearance this season. He served in an opener role for freshman Nic Morlang, who was the Terps’ starter in the first two Saturday games.
Smith held up in his two innings, allowing two runs while walking three batters and punching out two. But by the time Morlang came to relieve him, the game was well out of hand.
First baseman Ryan Costello’s RBI single kickstarted Maryland’s pummeling of Wagner, scoring Brayden Martin. On the very next batter, Paul Jones II hit a three-run home run to extend the Terps’ first-inning lead to 4-0.
Costello didn’t wait long to make his next impact. With the bases loaded via two walks and a bunt single, he mashed his team-high sixth home run — and the team’s first grand slam of the year — over the wall in left-center field.
Morlang came in for Smith in the third inning. He forced a fly-out and a double play that sealed the inning. Senior outfielder Aden Hill, who came in for an injured Bud Coombs, ended up scoring the only run of the third inning on a fielder’s choice.
Two Maryland errors led to two Wagner runners crossing home plate in the top of the fifth. But that was the last time Wagner put any runs on the board.
And Maryland matched those runs quickly. Sophomore outfielder Jordan Crosland’s first home run of the year brought in Jackson Sirois. Then, Kaunas’ double to left field brought in Martin and gave the Terps an already commanding 13-4 lead.
Andrew Koshy entered for Morlang in the sixth inning and tossed a scoreless frame. In the bottom, Crosland and Martin each added on a pair of RBI singles.
In the seventh inning, Koshy again forced a fly-out and notched a strikeout to keep Wagner from adding on to its score. Costello’s defense at first base was sublime — he tagged a Wagner player to prevent them from reaching it.
A strikeout and two flyouts sealed Maryland’s series-winning victory in the top of the ninth inning.
“This is baseball. If you watch baseball day to day, this is just what it is when you can win one day, lose the next,” head coach Matt Swope said. “That’s why it’s really, really hard to sweep, and you’re just trying to win [the] series.”
Three things to know
1. Evan Smith makes first start. In the sophomore pitcher’s two-inning appearance, he got two strikeouts, walked three batters and finished with two earned runs.
2. Bud Coombs injury issues continue. In the third inning, Coombs exited with an injury and was replaced by Hill. Losing the promising youngster for the second time this season — after he also missed the football season with an injury — is not a good sign.
3. Costello had an impact performance. Costello was an overall force Saturday to extend his hot start to the year. He had multiple tags, a home run, five RBIs and three runs.
