Photo courtesy of Grayson Belanger/Maryland Athletics.
Maryland baseball (10-6, 0-0 B1G) was overwhelmed by West Virginia (11-3, 0-0 BIG 12) in a midweek blowout, 10-3.
The Mountaineer offense was dominant throughout the game, and the Terps bats weren’t able to get anything going.
Center fielder Paul Schoenfeld had a particularly strong offensive performance for West Virginia, with three hits and two RBIs. One came off a triple to deep center field – his first of the season.
Gavin Kelly also recorded multiple RBIs for the Mountaineers, both coming on a single to center field. The sophomore had an efficient night at the plate, adding two walks to reach base in three of his five appearances.
Maryland came into the game averaging 10.3 hits per game and 8.5 runs. The Terps offense was completely shut down against West Virginia, only recording six hits and one run off a homer from Franklin Pichardo Jr.
The Pichardo solo shot came in the top of the ninth and was the freshman catcher’s first collegiate longball.
Maryland’s two other runs came from bases loaded walks – also in the ninth inning.
After being named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Ryan Costello was one of six Terps batters to go hitless – he walked twice.
David Hagen started on the mound for West Virginia. He came into the game with 5.1 innings pitched and no earned runs allowed – After a clean first inning, Hagan got one batter into the second before leaving with an apparent injury.
Carson Estridge came in for relief – his fifth appearance of the season. The senior had pitched just over three innings before the matchup with Maryland. He nearly doubled his total in this game, pitching three innings and only allowing one hit.
Nic Morlang got the midweek start for the Terps. The freshman had picked up wins in his last two appearances against Wagner and Troy.
The right-hander struggled in his 1.2 innings pitched. Morlang walked five batters and gave up six earned runs, throwing 52 total pitches.
Landon Edwards was next on the mound for Maryland – he lasted only an inning after giving up two runs on a bases loaded single.
Brayden Ryan came in for Edwards but didn’t make it much longer. Ryan was done after 1.2 innings pitched, giving up two runs off of four hits.
Andrew Koshy and James Gladden combined to keep West Virginia scoreless for three innings.
Cristofer Cespedes entered the game in the eighth and posted another zero on the board.
Maryland starts conference play this weekend with a three game series at home against Purdue. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.
