No. 23 Maryland baseball’s offense shines in 19-7 thwarting over Delaware

After Maryland baseball held a comfortable five-plus lead for much of the day, Delaware made it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh following a five-run frame. 

But the Terps responded with their second seven-run inning of the day in the top of the eighth.

Nick Lorusso started the scoring with an RBI double into right center, before Ian Petrutz then blasted a three-run home run into right center to put the Terps ahead five.

Elijah Lambros added another run on an RBI triple before a pair of RBI doubles off the bats of Jacob Orr and Kevin Keister blew the game open.

The eighth inning sealed the deal as No. 23 Maryland baseball (31-15, 12-4 B1G) defeated Delaware (21-24, 10-12 CAA), 19-7.

Ryan Van Buren got the start for Maryland, finishing with the best outing for his season. The sophomore right-hander allowed two runs — one earned — in five innings, his longest start of the year.

Maryland’s bats came out on fire in the top of the first, loading the bases on its first three batters. Petrutz answered with a walk, bringing home a run with no outs. 

The first four batters were too much for redshirt junior right-hander Nate Rolka, as he got pulled after the walk for junior right-hander Wyatt Nelson.

But the Terps weren’t rattled by the pitching change, as the Terps rattled off six more runs in the opening frame. 

Sophomore first baseman Eddie Hacopian drove home junior shortstop Matt Shaw on an RBI single to short, and Orr brought home two more Terps on a single of his own three batters later. Junior catcher Luke Shliger closed the scoring with a three-RBI double that bounced over the outfield wall, putting the Terps ahead 7-0 at the end of the inning.

Nelson was pulled before the top of the second frame for redshirt senior left-hander Chris Grome.

Delaware got into scoring position for the first time in the bottom of the second after a triple to left center by redshirt junior centerfielder Jake Dunion. Dunion was brought home two at bats later after a RBI single through the left side off the bat of junior catcher Tyler Leach.

The Blue Hens added another run in the following inning as redshirt senior shortstop JJ Freeman brought home redshirt junior third baseman Joey Loynd on an RBI single up the middle.

But Maryland got that run right back the next inning as Lorusso blasted a leadoff home run over the left field wall.

Van Buren was pulled at the end of the fifth inning in favor of junior left-hander Logan Ott.

Delaware got back onto the board with a five-run inning in the bottom of the seventh, as the Blue Hens teed off on fifth-year right-hander Kenny Lippman, who walked the leadoff batter of the frame.

Three straight hits — one Loynd single and two homers off the bats of Freeman and redshirt junior first baseman Josearmando Diaz — made it a one-run game, 8-7.

Lipmann was pulled two at bats after Diaz’ blast for redshirt sophomore right-hander Nigel Belgrave, who closed the inning with a first pitch groundout. 

The Terps answered with a seven-run eighth frame, scoring all of their runs on extra base hits to blow the scores themselves in the top of the eighth. It was Maryland’s second seven-run inning of the day, with eight different batters reaching base. 

Maryland added four more runs in the ninth as the Terps held on and swept their season series over Delaware.