Photo by Kevin Snyder/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Big innings plagued Maryland baseball in its prior series against Purdue.
Purdue had multiple innings in which it scored four or more runs, and Maryland’s series opener against UCLA continued that trend.
While Maryland allowed runs in just three innings against UCLA, the game was punctuated by 11 runs between the first and seventh innings. The two big innings allowed the Bruins to run-rule the Terps 12-2 in seven frames on Friday at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Los Angeles.
Lance Williams got the Friday night for Maryland (11-10, 1-3 Big Ten) start against a daunting UCLA (19-2, 7-0 Big Ten) lineup. The East Carolina transfer had a rough start to his night, as a double and a hit batter gave the Bruins a chance to add to their early 1-0 lead.
UCLA did just that, as junior catcher Cashel Dugger knocked a grand slam over the right-field fence to give the Bruins a 5-0 lead.
While Williams kept UCLA scoreless over his next three innings, the sophomore showed inconsistent command. The right-hander threw 64 of his 90 pitches for strikes, despite hitting four batters and walking in a run in the fifth inning.
Williams’ night ended after five innings, and Brayden Ryan took the mound in the sixth, retiring the side in efficient fashion.
But Ryan was pulled quickly into the following inning. The redshirt junior issued three runs and left the game with the bases loaded. Andrew Koshy relieved the right-hander and did not make it out of the inning, giving up three more runs and ending the game via run-rule.
Despite surrendering 12 runs, Maryland’s pitching limited the damage done by Roch Cholowsky. MLB.com’s No. 1-rated draft prospect entered the game with a .347 batting average, but was hitless in each of his first four plate appearances.
Cholowsky finished the game with just one hit, which came on a two-RBI single as part of a six-run seventh inning.
Logan Reddemann earned the start for UCLA on Friday. The junior had produced strong outings in each of his five previous starts, surrendering no more than three runs. Friday’s contest was no different, pitching six innings and producing seven strikeouts.
Maryland’s offense was immediately playing from a five-run deficit. Junior Brayden Martin got the Terps on the board in the third inning with an RBI double that scored senior outfielder Aden Hill from second base.
The Terps added another run in the sixth inning on a two-out single by freshman infielder Ty Kaunas, but a big seventh inning from the Bruins ended the game.
Maryland will now look to even the series against UCLA on Saturday. The first pitch for game two against the top-ranked Bruins is scheduled for 5 p.m.
