Maryland baseball’s pitching woes lead to 12-10 defeat to Nebraska

No. 23 Maryland baseball entered Saturday hoping to clinch the series win following a Friday night victory over Nebraska. 

Yet, the Terps got off to a rocky start following a five run first inning by the Cornhuskers. Nonetheless, Maryland found itself down three in the final three innings with a chance to tie or take the lead in what had been an offensive showcase thus far. 

The Terps couldn’t pull through, however, registering only one run in the final innings.

Nebraska (25-18-1, 10-7 B1G) defeated Maryland (32-16, 12-5 B1G) 12-10, setting up a Sunday rubber match.

Freshman left-hander Kyle McCoy earned the starting nod for Maryland, struggling in 2.2 innings pitched. McCoy allowed eight earned runs, striking out only one as he exited with a five-run deficit. 

“He just was kind of flattened out over the plate … to a really good hitting team,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “Just a lot of pitches ended up middle to a really good hitting team and they made him pay.”

Junior right-hander Jace Kaminska started for the Cornhuskers, striking out four but giving up seven runs on six hits. 

The Cornhuskers jumped out to a large lead in the first inning. Junior shortstop Brice Matthews reached home first following an RBI by sophomore left fielder Gabe Swansen. Two at-bats later and with the bases loaded, fifth-year designated hitter Griffin Everitt launched a grand slam into center, putting the Cornhuskers ahead 5-0. The home run was Everitt’s fourth of the year. 

The Terps were able to decrease the deficit in the bottom half of the inning. With one runner on, junior shortstop Matt Shaw sent a two-run homer over the center field fence, making it 5-2 Nebraska lead. Shaw leads the Big Ten with 20 home runs this season. He is also the first player in program history to hit 20 home runs in multiple seasons. 

The Terps continued to inch away at the lead the next inning with a pair of home runs. With one out, junior second baseman Kevin Keister blasted a solo home run into left, his seventh of the year. Two at bats later, Shaw rocketed his second home run of the day, this time into right center to make it a one run game. 

“He’s an elite player and he gave us a chance today,” Vaughn said. “Just really good swings. Really good at bats.”

Shaw finished 4-5 from the plate with two HRs and 3 RBIs.

The Cornhuskers immediately got the runs back in the top of the third with three home runs. First, junior second baseman Max Anderson led off with a solo shot into right center. Swansen then followed with a home run into left center, giving Nebraska a three run lead.

Four at bats later, first baseman Efry Cervantes delivered a two-run home run into left, making it a 9-4 lead. McCoy was pulled shortly after the home run for junior right-hander Nate Haberthier. McCoy gave up four home runs in his start, pitching a 32.73 ERA in his 2.2 innings. 

Haberthier closed the inning and held the Cornhuskers scoreless for the next two innings. 

The Terps got back on the board in the fifth. With two on and no outs, senior third baseman Nick Lorusso worked into a full count, including seven foul balls. On the 11th pitch of the at bat, the senior rocketed a home run over the high center field wall, decreasing the deficit to two runs. 

Kaminska was pulled following the home run for fifth-year right-hander Shay Schanaman. Schanaman closed the inning scoreless with a strikeout. 

Nebraska answered the next inning by loading the bases with its first three batters. Haberthier hit sophomore catcher Josh Caron, bringing in a run. Another walk two at-bats later with the bases loaded and an RBI sac fly by Cervantes made it a 12-7 Nebraska lead at the end of the frame. 

The Terps then loaded the bases the following inning with one out and Lorusso at the plate. While Lorusso struck out, Keister and junior catcher Luke Shliger reached home on back-to-back at-bats after a passed ball and a wild pitch.

The seventh was Haberthier’s last inning. After recording one out, the junior was pulled for junior left-hander Logan Ott. Haberthier pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs. 

“Nate Haberthier was outstanding,” Vaughn said.  “That’s the best that guy’s thrown maybe since week one. I thought he was incredible.”

Ott and sophomore left-hander Andrew Johnson kept the Cornhuskers scoreless for the final three innings, setting the offense up for a comeback.

But an Elijah Lambros RBI single in the ninth was the only run registered, as the Terps fell to the Cornhuskers, 12-10. 

The two teams are scheduled for a rubber match at 1 p.m. on Sunday at ‘The Bob.’