Photo by Ian Cox/Maryland Terrapins
Outfielder Aden Hill came up to bat for the second time in the second inning with two runners on base. The junior then crushed a three-run home run to right field, extending Maryland’s lead to 10-1.
The home run was Hill’s second of the inning and capped a ten-run inning from Maryland (4-4). The Terps never trailed from that pointing, cruising Princeton (0-5) 17-1 on Friday in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Hill entered the contest with just one home run, but his second home run of the game marked his third consecutive at-bat with a home run.
“I think in the first couple series I was swinging up a little bit too much and trying to do too much,” Hill said. “I’m at my best when I’m staying within myself.”
Redshirt sophomore Kyle McCoy started the game for the Terps. After missing all of the 2024 season because of Tommy John Surgery, McCoy has excelled in the early season, surrendering just one earned run through ten innings.
The game started as many have recently for Maryland — with a first-inning run. McCoy’s third pitch of the game was taken deep by junior Jake Koonin, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
From there, McCoy was dominant, pitching seven innings and finishing with just that one run. McCoy consistently pounded the strike zone, working fast and efficiently, allowing him to tie a career-high nine strikeouts.
“Just a bulldog … [he] was attacking ahead of hitters all day,” head coach Matt Swope said on McCoy’s performance.
McCoy’s deep start allowed Maryland to conserve its pitching staff, using just two pitchers. The rest was needed for a Maryland bullpen that was heavily used in its past three games, throwing 17.2 combined innings.
The Terps’ defense has been inconsistent to start the season, committing four errors in its past two games, but on Friday, they finished with only two errors for the second time this year.
“They did a great job today,” McCoy said. “[They] made all the plays … we played as a team today, and that was great to see that from us.”
In Princeton’s prior three games, its pitching staff struggled, surrendering at least eight runs in each contest. Those woes continued early in the contest.
Maryland started their scoring with an explosive second inning. Redshirt sophomore Hollis Porter tied the game at one with a lead-off home run. Hill then gave the Terps the lead with a two-run. Sophomore Brayden Martin, senior Eddie Hacopian, and sophomore Chris Hacopian also had three straight RBI hits, contributing to a ten-run second inning.
Senior Alex Calarco added to the lead in the sixth inning with a nation-leading seventh home run of the season. Calaraco struggled to find consistent time in Maryland’s lineup last season but has dominated early in the season. Entering Friday’s contest, he led the Terps with 21 RBIs.
The Terps continued their offensive prowess in the final two innings, scoring six runs and extending their lead to 17-1.
“Finally our first game, where we played all three phases complete throughout the game, and you can see it results in a win,” Swope said.
Freshman Cristofer Cespedes came into the game following McCoy and finished up the game, as well as getting his first career strikeout.
Cespedes’ start was much improved compared to his first appearance. The freshman walked all four batters he saw in his only other start of the season but allowed just one base runner on Friday.
The Terps will have a quick turnaround against the Tigers as they play them for the second time in less than 24 hours on Saturday. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.
