After being held to only four runs through two games, the Tennessee offense exploded in the the second game of the double header to avoid a sweep, defeating the Terps 13-6.
It seemed as if the Maryland late-inning magic from the first game Sunday, which the Terps won 10-4, was going to carry over into the 4 p.m. matchup when Marty Costes launched a solo homer to lead-off the game and Nick Dunn jacked a two-run shot of his own two batters later to give Maryland an early 3-0 lead.
However, the magic soon wore off when the Volunteers came to bat in the bottom of the inning. A once-stagnant offense put up a five spot on Terrapin starter Hunter Parsons. Outfielder Justin Ammons opened up the scoring with a double that brought in Jay Charleston. Doubles by Andre Lipcius and Benito Santiago, followed by a single from Wyatt Snapp, quickly turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead.
In the second, Tennessee starter Will Neely settled in after a rough first inning. It was not flawless by any means, but Neely worked his way out of some tough situations in the middle innings to keep the Volunteers’ lead in tact. Through his five innings of work, Neely only allowed one more earned run that was scored after he exited the ballgame.
The same can not be said for Parsons. Following an ugly first, Parsons took the mound in the second only to administer two hit by pitches, a walk and two wild pitches. With the bases loaded and no outs recorded, his day was done.
Freshman reliever Mark DiLuia entered the game for Parsons, and promptly gave up a grand slam to Andre Lipcius-his first homer of the season. Three of those runs were charged to Parsons, who finished with a total of eight earned.
The Volunteers offense was not done, as catcher Nico Mascia added an RBI single in the second, and Charleston and Santiago added lead-off solo homers in the third and fourth innings, respectively.
The Terps tried to claw back in the middle innings, adding two runs on a Randy Bednar pinch-hit two-run single, scoring Kevin Biondic and AJ Lee in the fifth. Zach Jancarski then crossed the plate in the sixth, making it 12-6, when Mascia launched a pick-off attempt past first base and down the right field line.
Maryland’s bullpen also held its own in the later innings as Grant Burleson, Billy Phillips, Mike Vasturia and Kevin Biondic held Tennessee to only one run over the final 3 ⅓ innings of the game.
However, the Volunteers’ bullpen did the same, stopping the scoring at six and shutting the door on any possible comeback opportunity for the Terps.
Maryland still earned a series victory with its 10-4 win earlier in the day, but now sits at 2-1 on the season. The Volunteers now hold a 1-2 record, avoiding aa winless opening weekend.
The Terps now head to Williamsburg, Virginia, for a midweek matchup with William and Mary before a home series against Army over the weekend.
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