Photo by Austin DeSisto/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.
Heading into the eighth inning, Maryland baseball had the opportunity to eliminate a nightmare second inning.
The Terps scored three runs in the inning prior, cutting an eight-run deficit to just two runs. But Maryland mustered just one hit in the final two innings, preventing a late-inning comeback and dropping its first Big Ten series with an 8-6 loss to Purdue on Saturday
In Maryland’s Friday contest against Purdue, the Boilermakers scored the bulk of their runs in the final two innings. On Saturday, Purdue scored all of its runs in the first two innings.
Of the eight runs pitcher Evan Smith allowed in his three innings of work, only three were earned.
The rest came from a series of defensive lapses and poor judgment. Purdue’s first run came when catcher Rylen Stockton attempted to throw out Aaron Manias stealing second with Ali Banks on third base, allowing Banks to score.
The Terps did not fare much better in the following inning.
Maryland gave up five of its seven runs in the second inning with two outs, all of which were unearned due to an infield flyball that landed between five Maryland players. The error scored Aaron Manias from second base, and the Boilermakers capitalized with a two-RBI double from Westin Boyle and a two-run home run from CJ Richmond.
Redshirt junior Brayden Ryan kept the Terps in the game with five scoreless innings after Smith’s exit. The right-hander’s performance was both the most consecutive innings he has pitched in a game this season and the most consecutive innings he has gone without allowing a run.
Ryan did most of his damage against the Boilermakers by inducing weak contact. Ryan issued nine groundouts while surrendering just hits across five innings and allowing Maryland’s offense to find rhythm.
Offensively, freshman outfielder Bud Coombs helped put the Terps back into the game with a season-high two RBIs. Coombs, who was a three-star football recruit for Maryland, played in just his seventh game Saturday afternoon. Through just five starts, the freshman now ranks second-best on the team in doubles with five.
Maryland cut down the Boilermakers’ lead to just two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bud Coombs stole home on a passed ball.
Ryan Costello rebounded at the plate after going hitless Friday afternoon, but the freshman left fielder struggled defensively. Costello, who played first base instead of his usual spot in right field, was responsible for two of Maryland’s four errors.
While the Terps outscored the Boilermakers 6-0 in the final seven innings of the game, it was not enough to overcome the 8-0 second inning deficit. The result was Maryland’s third consecutive loss and first conference series loss this season.
Maryland and Purdue will play the final game of the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
