Maryland and Rutgers split Saturday doubleheader resulting in a Terps series win

Photo courtesy of Chris Lyons/Maryland Athletics

With the series on the line and a man on first base, Logan Berrier looked to capture his fifth save of the season and his second three-inning save. He did just that, inducing a 4-6-3 double play ball to end the game and secure a crucial series win for the Terps.

“It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” Berrier said on entering the game in high-leverage situations. “There’s nothing better than getting the last out…and it’s just something I live for.”

After winning the first game of the series, Maryland (31-18, 10-11 Big Ten) needed the final game of the doubleheader to close out a 2-1 series victory against Rutgers (26-21, 4-14 Big Ten) in Piscataway, New Jersey.

“The first game was tough. We had a couple of situations where we could’ve capitalized,” coach Matt Swope said. “But they came out and battled in that second game and built up two big innings, and we got some clutch pitching.”

The two teams were originally supposed to play only one game on Saturday, but Sunday’s weather forecast forced Rutgers and Maryland to play a doubleheader.

Game 1

All-year, comebacks had been a staple of Maryland’s season. But in the first game of its doubleheader on Saturday, Maryland fell short of another come-from-behind victory. The Terps had just one batter reach safely in the final three innings, as 11 of their final 12 were retired.

The offense scored in just one inning for the second consecutive game, allowing Rutgers to edge out Maryland 2-1 in the first part of Saturday’s doubleheader in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Maryland switched up its starting pitching on Friday by starting Omar Melendez, and the Terps continued to move around their starting pitching. Joey McMannis had made the prior eight Sunday starts, but he got the nod in game one of the doubleheader over Logan Koester.

McMannis pitched just 3.2 innings, but his outing was destined to be short after throwing over 30 pitches in the first inning. He had inconsistent control throughout his start, allowing four walks but striking out four. The freshman was stingy when needed, getting Maryland out of a pair of jams.

“[McMannis’] stuff is elite, but he’s just got to work ahead,” Swope said. “If he’s throwing 80 [or] 90 pitches through four or five innings, that isn’t going to be good for him.”

Rutgers entered the fourth inning with just two hits. This changed when a pair of hits from the bottom of the lineup allowed lead-off hitter Johnny Volpe to give the Scarlet Knights the lead on a two-run single into left field.

The two-run base hit ended McMannis’ outing, forcing coach Matt Swope to go to the bullpen early in the game. Swope stayed in the freshman class, electing to go with Evan Smith, who needed just three pitches to end the fourth inning.

Maryland didn’t score until the sixth inning on Friday, but a hit batter and three walks in the second inning allowed the Terps to claim the early lead.

It was not for a lack of opportunities, as the Terps had the chance to blow the game wide open in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and no one out. Instead, Maryland recorded three straight outs, helping Rutgers to escape with a win.

Game 2

After watching Rutgers come back for the second consecutive game, Maryland found itself in a similar situation to the first game of the doubleheader. 

With the bases loaded, Elijah Lambros roped a two-run RBI down the left-field line, expanding the Terps’ lead back to three runs.

The double was just enough to steal a 6-4 win from Rutgers in the final game of the series.

Starting pitchers Logan Koester and Jake Marshall dominated in the early frames, as both pitchers allowed two base runners combined.

For Marshall, the second time through the order yielded different results. He retired the first nine batters faced but seemed to suddenly lose control of his pitches, surrendering three hits, three walks and two wild pitches in the fourth inning to give Maryland a 3-0 lead.

Despite Maryland claiming the early lead, Koester suffered a similar fate to Marshall. Rutgers evened the score on a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run double in the following inning.

Unlike the prior two games, Maryland scored in more than one inning. Devin Russell regained the Terps’ lead on a hit-by-pitch, and a two-run double by Lambros put the Terps’ lead back to three in the sixth inning.

“I think it went all the way back to the end of the first game,” Swope said on how the team was able to break through in the sixth inning. “They could’ve felt a little bit of pressure, but then all of a sudden they’re dancing, and they’re partying… in those situations, I think that just carries over into the game.”

Volpe nearly single-handily carried the Scarlet Knight’s offense all day long. He had two RBIs in the first game and delivered another two-run hit in the backend of the doubleheader.

However, Koester settled in after that, finishing the game with three earned runs on seven hits through six innings. Berrier came in relief and shut the door, clinching the series win.

“We brought [Berrier] in a little bit early, but…he hadn’t pitched since last week,” Swope said. “He did a great job minimizing, and his stuff was electric as usual.”

The Terps return home on Wednesday to face USC Upstate at 6 p.m.