Photo courtesy of Kevin Snyder/Maryland Athletics.
With the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Logan Hastings stared down Dylan Drake. Tied at four runs, Drake’s next swing broke things open for the Boilermakers – he crushed a grand slam over the center field wall, doubling his team’s score.
Maryland’s (10-7, 0-1 B1G) bullpen imploded in the Big Ten opener to Purdue (11-5, 2-2 B1G), giving up 12 runs in the final two innings in a 16-5 loss.
Lance Williams got the Friday night start again for the Terps. The sophomore had allowed 12 earned runs and struck out 26 through 19.1 innings before the series opener against Boilermakers.
Williams gave up a run in each of the first two innings but bounced back quickly. The right-hander burned six batters through the first three innings – striking out the side in the third.
Williams went a season-long seven innings, striking out seven and allowing four runs on five hits.
Logan Hastings came out to start the eighth inning for Maryland. He immediately faced trouble, loading the bases with one out. Drake’s grand slam would be the difference in the game.
Andrew Koshy and James Gladden both pitched in the ninth. They gave up a combined eight runs in a disastrous end to an otherwise competitive game.
The Terps’ fielders were on point throughout the game.
A pair of diving catches robbed potential runs in the first half of the game.
An impressive catch from Aden Hill kept the Purdue lead at 2-1 in the top of the second. The senior outfielder tracked the ball across center field, making a diving snag to end the frame.
Jordan Crosland followed suit in the fourth inning, sprinting through left field to spear a potential extra base hit out of the air.
The infield showed out – especially in the middle innings. A double play ended the fifth inning and a great cross-diamond throw from Brayden Martin protected a one run lead in the top of the sixth.
David Mendez had a strong seventh inning at second base – the junior was involved in all three outs, including a leaping catch to send it to the stretch.
Cole Van Assen started on the mound for the Boilermakers. He came into the game having pitched 18.1 innings, going 1-1 in four appearances.
The junior, like Williams, went deep, pitching six innings and giving up four runs with four strikeouts.
Thomas Howard took over the mound in the seventh for Purdue. He pitched two hitless innings before being relieved by Noah Filer, who gave up a run to snap the four inning scoreless streak.
Purdue mashed five home runs in the game.
Third baseman Sam Flores had three hits and three RBIs in five appearances. Centerfielder Brandon Rodgers also had multiple RBIs with a double and a solo home run.
Maryland’s outfielders had strong performances on the offensive side. Crosland hit an early homer for Maryland, driving the ball over the wall in dead center to tie the game at two.
Hill would follow Crosland’s lead, sending a two run shot over the left-center fence to give Maryland its first lead of the game – he also added a RBI single in the ninth.
Right fielder Ryan Costello didn’t record a hit – but was walked three times in four plate appearances.
The Terps’ bats fell silent for four of the last five innings. After taking a two run lead in the fourth, they didn’t record another hit until the bottom of the ninth.
Maryland will look to bounce back in the second game of the home series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
