After scoring a lowly seven runs through the first two games of the series, Rutgers’ offense exploded against Maryland baseball in the final bout of the weekend. The Scarlet Knights put together 14 total runs, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of the Terps after taking the first two games of the series.
The Terps have gotten off to a strong start in conference play, winning four of their first six games against Iowa and Rutgers. But Sunday’s loss was their worst performance of the Big Ten slate thus far, allowing 16 hits in a Sunday domination from the Scarlet Knights’ bats.
Ryan Lasko terrorized the Maryland pitchers, recording five hits and three runs batted in a remarkable individual performance. Seven other Scarlet Knights chipped in with a hit, giving Rutgers (16-15, 2-4 Big Ten) its second win of conference play while handing the Terps (19-12, 4-2 Big Ten) their second loss in a 14-8 outcome.
“This is what I really challenged [the team] on,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “When you have an opportunity to sweep on a Sunday you’ve got to take advantage of it. And I didn’t think we played bad … but just not as clean as we need to be.”
The offense failed to string together any multi-run innings while the pitching faltered. A freak injury for freshman left-hander Kyle McCoy forced Vaughn to go to his bullpen earlier than he would have hoped, and the Scarlet Knights teed off with a six-run sixth inning.
McCoy got his fifth-straight Sunday start, entering the day with a 3.94 ERA after allowing five earned runs to Iowa last weekend. His ERA had hit a season-low 2.81 before the game in Iowa City, turning in three consecutive starts with one earned run or less.
The freshman did not see the cleanest of starts early, facing six batters in both the second and third frames and allowing two runs through three innings. He threw two early walks as well, a rare sight for a guy who entered the day with nine walks in 29.2 innings pitched on the season.
The Scarlet Knights put together a two-run fourth inning after stringing together three-straight two-out hits. McCoy, who had quickly retired the first two batters of the frame on three pitches, couldn’t record his first 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon and instead allowed his largest inning yet, giving Rutgers a 4-2 lead.
The Terps got a run back in the bottom of the frame after junior catcher Luke Shliger recorded his second RBI single of the afternoon, scoring sophomore designated hitter Zach Martin, cutting the Terps’ deficit to one.
A scary sight took place in the top of the fifth inning. McCoy’s 68th pitch came right back at him on a hard liner, ricocheting off his face and causing him to swiftly exit the game. The freshman was able to walk off the field immediately under his own power, but held his face the entire walk back to the locker room.
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Nigel Belgrave replaced McCoy, but the energy in Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium was zapped after the shocking injury to the left-hander. Belgrave allowed two runs on one hit and two walks in his first inning of work, extending Rutgers’ lead, 6-3.
Rutgers continued to tee off Belgrave in the sixth, putting four more runs on the ledger — including two home runs. Belgrave recorded just one out in the inning before being replaced by sophomore left-hander Andrew Johnson.
Johnson allowed another two-run homer off the bat of sophomore shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer before the inning’s end. Rutgers put up 12 total runs on 14 hits by the conclusion of the sixth.
“We’ve got to find a way to execute, minimize there in the middle and give us a chance late,” Vaughn said.
The Maryland offense failed to put together a string of runs to cut the deficit, scoring just two from the third inning up until the ninth with two outs.
One final push by the Terps, including a three-run homer by freshman right fielder Luke Zeisloft, made the final score a little more palatable, but they ultimately fell 14-8.
If there was a silver lining for the Terps, it was the performance of Martin. The sophomore, in his second consecutive start, recorded three hits — all doubles — and displayed impressive power, making his case to become a mainstay in Vaughn’s lineup.
“He was outstanding,” Vaughn said. “You talk about it with guys all the time, I tell them if you don’t like your role do something to change it. And he gets an opportunity … just really of Zach. He took advantage of his opportunity and did a great job.”
While a disappointing outcome in the final game of the series, the Terps once again took two of three games from a Big Ten foe and hold a 4-2 record after two weekends of conference play.
“It’s obviously two good weekends,’ Vaughn said. “You want to win the series, but it’s also two consecutive weekends that you have an opportunity to finish a series [and don’t].”
