Maryland baseball drops both games against Iowa in rain delay doubleheader

Image courtesy of Norah Copenhaver/Maryland Athletics.

A 24-hour rain delay did a lot more good for Iowa (21-15, 7-10 B1G) than Maryland baseball (18-21, 4-13 B1G).

Following the delay, which set up a pseudo-doubleheader, the Hawkeyes scored seven runs in the seventh inning, turning a 6-4 lead on Friday into a 14-4 victory Saturday.

Later in the day, the Terps would drop another game to Iowa, losing 5-2 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Ryan Bailey got the nod on Saturday afternoon, taking over for Andrew Koshy. The day before, Koshy had thrown just nine pitches before the rain turned into a downpour

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Hawkeyes cycled through their lineup for seven runs on five hits and a throwing error from Bailey.

Bailey left the game after allowing two runs – one of which came from an errant throw to Paul Jones II at first base. James Gladden took the mound in a rare weekend series appearance – he usually only pitched in midweek matches.

Gladden only managed one out, allowing one run on four hits and loading up the bases. The run came from a wild pitch which allowed the speedy Joey Nerat to score from second base. Bailey was tagged with that run, but Gladden was responsible for three runs after a triple from Kellen Strohmeyer.

Maryland allowed six runs in the third inning the day before – two came off of back-to-back home runs. Evan Smith left the game midway through that inning, eventually earning the loss and falling to 0-5 on the season.

Logan Hastings got his second start an hour later, coming off a complete game in the Terps’ mercy rule win against Indiana. Hastings lasted six innings, keeping to his commitment to providing length for Maryland out of the rotation – he allowed four runs in the process.

The Terps bats woke up too late to mount a comeback. Bud Coombs and Ty Kaunas both hit solo home runs in the final three innings, but Maryland could not generate enough sustained offense against Iowa’s bullpen.

The Terps will play one final game in Iowa Sunday before returning to Maryland for a midweek game against Mount St. Mary’s.