Photo by Ashley Ray/Maryland Terrapins
Maryland baseball had the difficult task of bouncing back from an 18-8 blowout loss to Northwestern on Saturday. The Terps responded by crushing the Wildcats and enforcing the seven-inning run rule.
Maryland (14-14, 3-6 Big Ten) avoided a sweep Sunday against Northwestern (12-13, 5-4 Big Ten) by blasting five home runs in a dominant 22-11 victory at Bob Smith Stadium. The 22 runs scored is a program record against a Big Ten opponent.
“We have a huge chip on our shoulder now,” catcher Alex Calarco said. “We understand the position we’re in right now, so it’s time to execute in every aspect.”
Maryland’s offense came alive right from the first inning. The Terps scored at least three runs in each of the first four innings and at least once in six of the seven innings. Similar to the Wildcats on Saturday, none of the Terps’ runs were unearned.
Calarco entered the game leading the Terps with 11 home runs but had not homered in his last five contests. In the senior’s final game against his former team, he hit home runs from both sides of the plate.
Calarco’s first home run came in the first inning, scorching the third pitch of his at-bat over the batter’s eye in center field for the two-run home run with two outs. His next home run came just an inning later, but this time from the right side of the plate.
With two-outs remaining in the inning, Calarco once again crushed a homer over the batter’s eye, giving the Terps a 7-0 advantage. After those first two innings, Northwestern’s arms pitched around Calarco, ending the day with three walks.
“I just want to take what the game gives me,” Calarco said. “Of course, I love finding the barrel, but I’ve got to take what the game gives.”
Calarco was not the only one hitting home runs. Second baseman Eddie Hacopian hit his third home run of the season, also over the center field wall. Later that inning, first baseman Hollis Porter continued his hot streak with a home run into right field. Porter’s homer was part of a seven-run third inning, giving Maryland a 14-1 lead after three innings
“When Hollis [came] back into the dugout, I just screamed ‘Hollywood!’ in his face,” Calarco said. “He gets everyone going.”
Unlike Sunday’s game, Maryland got longevity and consistency from their pitchers. Freshman Jake Yeager started the game and lasted 4.1 innings, allowing just one run going into the fifth inning.
The Terps struggled in the fifth inning, which erased their double-digit lead. Yeager had not thrown a pitch in about thirty minutes as a result of Maryland scoring three runs the previous inning. He opened the inning by loading up the bases. Junior Owen McElfatrick took advantage of a fatigued freshman and hit a grand slam over the center field wall, scoring half of Northwestern’s eight runs in the fifth inning.
“The young guys got to understand that if you have a 40-minute inning, the focus and intent are all really important within those time frames,” head coach Matt Swope said. “In order to become a professional, the game is against yourself.”
But the Terps rallied for five runs in the ensuing inning, giving them a 22-9 lead, allowing their bullpen to enforce the ten-score run rule in the seventh inning despite surrendering two runs.
The Terps will get Monday off before hosting UMBC on Tuesday.
