After scoring its third-most runs of the season on Tuesday against Georgetown, Maryland baseball only scored three runs in seven innings against Penn State Thursday, leading to the Terps’ 10th loss in a conference series opener.
Maryland fell, 13-3, to Penn State in the first game of its final conference series at the Bob Thursday night. The Terps only scored in two out of the seven innings, struggling to keep Penn State at bay.
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“It doesn’t matter whether we’re out or not, we’re coaching and doing all those different things,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Next year, it’s definitely going to have to be a point of emphasis, or do some things differently.”
The Nittany Lions snagged the lead in the top of the first after Maryland starting pitcher James Gladden walked the first two batters and then threw a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly and an error by shortstop Ty Kaunas then sent those baserunners home.
Maryland failed to score but kept the Nittany Lions scoreless in the top of the second. Gladden’s first and only strikeout of the game, a fly out to left center and a sliding catch in shallow right field by redshirt junior Jordan Crosland retired the side.
That would be one of the only innings the Nittany Lions failed to score in.
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The Terps grabbed their first run of the game in the bottom of the second after a single to right center by sophomore Paul Jones II — his 12th RBI in the past 48 hours. Jones II notched 11 on Tuesday against Georgetown.
A couple minutes later, Maryland loaded the bases with two outs. Brayden Martin stepped to the plate but promptly grounded out to Penn State shortstop Preston Yaucher to strand three runners on base.
“We needed somebody to come through there early on and keep it going and keep it close, and we didn’t do that,” Swope said. “Whether it’s bases loaded or nobody on, it’s more process oriented stuff, and we didn’t come through today.”
Thursday night was Gladden’s first start with the Terps. After pitching two innings with one strikeout and three walks, he was replaced by junior left-hander Landon Edwards.
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“We’re just trying to piece together the game,” Swope said. “I think we’re just trying to get through the game.”
After hitting a batter, Edwards punched out his first strikeout. Jones II reached into the Penn State dugout to snag a foul ball for a highlight-reel second out.
Penn State’s Jesse Jaconski blasted a solo homer over the left center wall to extend the Nittany Lions’ lead. The Terps ended the inning after catcher Devin Russell threw out Spencer Barnett in a second base steal attempt.
Maryland attempted to catch up to Penn State in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run by junior David Mendez over the right center wall. The junior’s 10th slam this season flew off the bat at 108 mph.
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Mendez’s homer also marked Maryland’s final runs of the contest.
The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the top of the fourth after a two-run home run by Maddox McDonald to center field.
Right-hander Andrew Koshy took the mound in place of Edwards with no outs. Following a single through left field and strikeout, Penn State’s Michael Anderson notched another two-run blast to make it an 8-3 game.
The Terps left three runners on base once again in the bottom of the fourth after a single and two walks. Penn State brought in right-hander Ben DeMell with two outs, and he struck out redshirt freshman Ryan Costello to end the inning.
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“It was going to be a slug it out day, and [we] needed to just get a couple more big swings in those situations,” Swope said. “We didn’t do enough offensively today in those situations.”
The Nittany Lions snagged another four runs in the top of the fifth after an RBI double by McDonald down the left field line slid right under Martin’s glove. A walk loaded the bases before Anderson drove a two-run RBI single between shortstop and third base.
Penn State’s Bryce Molinaro then doubled off the left field wall. A runner scored from third, but Anderson was thrown out on the relay to home.
Maryland failed to score throughout the remainder of the game. The Nittany Lions scored one more in the top of the sixth after back-to-back failed pickoff attempts to give them a 10-run lead.
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Right-hander Quinn Yellin made his third appearance of the season in the top of the seventh and managed to keep Penn State scoreless for the second frame of the night.
However, the Terps failed to bring any runs in the bottom of the seventh, causing the game to prematurely end for their seventh run-rule ending and final series-opener of the season.
“The things that we’ve struggled with are pretty apparent, but we’re continuing to struggle with those things [injuries] too,” Swope said.
Three things to know
1. Lack of offense. Maryland has scored less than four runs in 13 out of its 54 games this season. Two days prior to Thursday night’s game, the Terps slammed 14 hits against Georgetown including four home runs and 11 RBIs. Thursday, Maryland recorded eight hits and one home run against Penn State.
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2. Stranded runners. The Terps stranded a total of 12 runners on base Thursday night, including leaving the bases loaded twice. Costello has the most grand slams in the nation with four, but failed to make it five during his at bat in the bottom of the fourth.
3. Busted bullpen. The Terps went through five pitchers Thursday night after going through seven on Tuesday against Penn State. The five pitchers allowed 12 earned runs, walking eight batters and throwing seven strikeouts.
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