Photo by Austin DeSisto/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Maryland baseball and Purdue had traded runs for most of Sunday’s contest.
Heading into the final frame, Logan Hastings looked to buck that trend. Maryland’s right-hander did just that, allowing just one batter to reach base in the ninth inning.
Hastings’ performance allowed Maryland to avoid a series sweep against Purdue and take the final game of the weekend series 10-9 at Bob Smith Stadium in College Park.
Sunday’s game started similarly to Maryland’s (11-8, 1-2 Big Ten) prior two games, as Purdue (12-6, 3-3 Big Ten) quickly jumped on Maryland’s starting pitching.
The Boilermakers scored in each of the first two innings on a pair of home runs from infielder CJ Richmond and Dylan Drake, giving Purdue an early 3-0 lead.
But unlike Saturday’s game, Maryland’s pitching staff minimized the damage from Purdue’s lineup in the opening innings. That allowed the Terps’ lineup a chance to mount a comeback.
Freshman outfielder Nate Hawton-Henley started that rally in the fifth inning, driving a single into left field that set up a two-run home run from fellow outfielder Jordan Crosland.
The Terps came roaring back in the sixth inning to erase the Boilermakers’ 5-2 lead. Building off Crosland’s home run, Maryland scored four runs on a pair of singles and an error. Maryland took advantage of Purdue’s depleted bullpen, specifically their lack of high-leverage pitchers
The Terps and Boilermakers traded runs until freshman Ty Kaunas came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at nine.
Maryland’s shortstop hit a groundball deep into the third base gap. Purdue’s Sam Flores attempted to throw out Kaunas, but a head-first sliding effort into first base allowed him to beat the throw and score Ryan Costello, giving Maryland a 10-9 advantage.
The Terps once again called upon Logan Hastings in the final innings to preserve a lead. Hastings, who has allowed just six runs in 21 innings pitched this season, gave up just one walk in the final 1.2 innings to shut down Purdue’s lineup.
One key difference in Sunday afternoon’s win was the fastidious defense the Terps played compared to their previous two games. Maryland followed up their four-error performance Saturday afternoon with a clean performance.
The Terps defense tallied two double plays in their victory, including an unassisted double play from first baseman Paul Jones II in the eighth inning.
Maryland will look to continue its momentum as it travels to Richmond on Tuesday.
