Preview: Maryland baseball gets set for weekend series against UCF

Maryland baseball (12-8) travels south to Orlando this weekend for a series against UCF (15-6), the Terps’ first series against an above-.500 opponent for the first time since late February. 

The matchup will be between two high scoring and hard hitting teams. Both average over eight runs and 1.5 home runs a game. 

“They’re going to be talented and the atmosphere is going to be really good,” coach Rob Vaughn said. “I’m sure this is a weekend they’ve circled a little bit so I’m sure it’ll be a good atmosphere and be a little bit rowdy.”

Not only does Vaughn expect it to be rowdy, but he also expects his squad to be looking forward to the change in weather. After experiencing temperatures in the 30s in Maryland’s last weekend series against Albany, Orlando has predicted temperatures in the 90s for every game.

“Our guys are excited,” Vaughn said. “Those guys are gonna have to really do a good job hydrating so that we’re not cramping, we’re not having to tap out because we’re hot. But these boys, they’d rather play in 100 than then 20 like we did this weekend.”

The Knights enter the series following a Tuesday loss to North Florida. UCF was up 2-1 before a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Ospreys the win. 

UCF was on a five-game winning streak prior to the loss, including a pair of wins over then-No. 21 Florida State. 

Catcher Ben McCabe headlines the potent Knights offense that includes four guys with an OPS over 1.000. McCabe is slashing a remarkable .449/.522/.910, with ten home runs on the season, the team-high. The redshirt senior has also posted 20 RBIs on the season, tied for the team-lead.

Fellow redshirt senior Tom Josten also hits with power in the UCF lineup. The second baseman has clubbed eight home runs, second most on the team. But he’s hit a cold streak the past five games, batting only .217 with no homers and just one RBI. 

The pitching staff for USF sports a 4.68 collective ERA alongside a 1.33 WHIP. Friday night starter Ruddy Gomez headlines the group, recording a 3.07 ERA on the season. The redshirt senior right-hander sports a 3-0 record in five starts.

Sophomore right-hander Dom Stagliano is also expected to see time on the mound for UCF. He enters with a 3.95 ERA and a 4-0 record in six appearances this season.

On the other side, senior Nick Lorusso heads the Terps’ offensive group. The third baseman enters with a .345 batting average and eight home runs, both team highs. 

While Lorusso has been a steady force in the Maryland lineup all season, possibly no Terp is hotter than fifth year right fielder Matt Woods. Woods has exploded following a slow start to the season, possibly due to a back injury that plagued him early on. Woods is hitting .370 the past six games with five home runs. 

Juniors Luke Shliger and Matt Shaw round out the star studded Maryland lineup. Shliger, the starting catcher and team captain, is batting .321 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. Shaw, the star shortstop and a top-20 MLB draft prospect, is hitting .312 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. 

The pitching staff for the Terps has struggled this season, coming into the series with a 5.12 ERA. Junior right-hander Jason Savacool is the Friday night starter for the squad and has been the lone consistent force in the starting staff, posting a 2.32 ERA alongside a 1.00 WHIP with a 3-2 record. 

Senior right-hander Nick Dean starts on Saturdays but has significantly struggled since a masterful six-inning scoreless outing in his first start of the season. He has allowed at least four runs in all four of his starts since. 

Junior right-hander Nate Haberthier and freshman left-hander Kyle McCoy are also expected to see time this weekend. The duo recorded a 0.56 ERA the past two Sundays.

“In a perfect world [Haberthier] piggybacks Kyle on Sunday because I think those two match up really well together,” Vaughn said. “We’ll play this weekend by ear and like I said if we need Nate on Saturday and he feels good, he’ll be available…if not, it’s a perfect piggyback guy on Sunday.”

Friday’s matchup will be the first in the two schools’ history, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.