Maryland baseball first played against Delaware eight days ago. In that game, six Terps pitchers combined to allow 12 walks and 14 runs. They did win, but only on the back of an offensive explosion.
This time around, on Wednesday, the Terps’ success on the mound allowed them to log a more comfortable, 7-3, victory against Delaware.
Wednesday showcased Maryland’s depth in a bullpen game. Six different pitchers took the mound, spotlighted by six scoreless innings to end the night by Andrew Koshy, Ryan
Bailey, Jayson Torres and Crisofter Cespedes.
Pitching struggles from Delaware’s Elias Conway allowed the Terps to take an early lead. In the top of the first inning, Conway dealt four walks, hit two batters and allowed two Maryland runs to score.
WIth the bases loaded in the third, Delaware second baseman Jeremy Wolf hit a rocket down the left field line. As Jordan Crosland and Terps in the outfield scrambled for the ball, the bases emptied for the Hens to take the lead and swing momentum.
But Mendez struck again, ripping a two-run single in the top of the fourth to retake a one-run advantage and force yet another call to the bullpen. Mendez came home just four pitches later, thanks to an RBI single from Ryan Costello to double the lead.
Senior Aden Hill put on a defensive clinic in the bottom of the fourth. The center fielder sprinted to the wall after Delaware’s Vincent Davis hit a fly ball to left-center. Hill managed to reel in the ball before it hit the fence, but not before losing his hat in the process.
Shortstop Ty Kaunas had a tough day against the Blue Hens. The freshman went 0-of-3 with three strikeouts — the most on the team.
Kaunas was shaky in the diamond as well. The shortstop dove blind to get under a fly ball but missed, allowing a Blue Hens double in the bottom of the fifth. Not long after, an errant throw towards first base pulled Costello off the bag, letting yet another runner get to base.
But Kaunas was able to redeem himself, sparking a 6-4-3 double play to quickly close the fifth inning.
Costello took the plate in the top of the seventh inning. The first baseman swung, crushing one over right field to increase Maryland’s lead to three runs.
The Terps’ lead continued to grow after a Jordan Crosland sacrifice fly to right field brought Costello home for a second time.
Cespedes closed the game with nine strikes in a 10-pitch, two-strikeout ninth, sealing the deal on Maryland’s eighth victory of the season.
Three things to know
1. Terps on the move. Maryland ranks second in the Big Ten for bases stolen, only trailing No. 1 UCLA by nine. The Terps average over two stolen bases per game.
2. Costello on a roll. Costello’s home run marks his seventh of the season, tying him for second in most home runs in the conference.
3. More swings and misses. The Terps struck out a total of 10 times against Delaware on Wednesday, double the five punchouts they recorded in their first match up with the Hens.
