Until Sunday, Maryland baseball first baseman Paul Jones II hadn’t hit a home run since April 28th. His blast that day was the only one the Terps logged during their 11-2 victory over Georgetown. On Sunday, he turned his fate around with two home runs and five RBIs to help lead it to victory.
In the last midweek game of the season, Jones II multiplied his success in the batters box. In a record-breaking night, the Minnesota native crushed two grand slams and a home run to contribute 11 runs in Maryland’s
victory against Georgetown, 21-6, in College Park.
Austin Weiss took the pitcher’s mound to start the game for the Terps, but he only lasted one inning. Weiss walked the leadoff batter and an errant pick-off attempt let AJ Solomon reach third. Georgetown then scored the first run of the day on an RBI groundout.
Ryan Costello struck first for the Terps, singling in the bottom of the first. He eventually reached third after two walks followed.
Jones II took the batter’s box for his 50th at-bat of the year. He cleared the bases with his first grand slam of the night, pushing the Terps in front.
In the bottom of the third inning, Brayden Martin drew his 54th walk of the season. The junior Maryland native now holds the record for most career walks by a Terp, having gotten 139 in just three years.
A successful bunt by David Mendez pushed Martin into scoring position in the bottom of the third after an inning and a half of hitless play. Then, he came all the way around on the back of an RBI double by true freshman Bud Coombs.
Just three pitches later, Jones II struck again. The sophomore hit his 10th blast of the year for a three-run home run to grow the lead to seven. Bud Coombs did the same in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the Hoyas into run-rule territory with a three-run bomb to straightaway center.
Swope had the bullpen on speed dial against Georgetown, utilizing a new pitcher in every inning.
Freshman Peyton Mamula became the first Maryland pitcher to last more than a full inning on the mound. Terps’ pitching coach Jimmy Jackson took Mamula off the mound in the top of the fifth with no outs after he allowed a hit and two walks to load the bases.
He passed the runners off to junior Andrew Koshy, who issued a full count walk to the first batter he saw. That gave Georgetown its first run in five innings. After posting his only strikeout, he hit Georgetown’s Asthon Seymore to bring in another run.
Brayden Martin’s 140th walk sparked a flurry of runs for the Terps. A bases-loaded walk around the diamond gave the Terps a 10-run lead. Mendez, Coombs and freshman Ty Kaunas all notched RBIs in the bottom of the frame.
After Jake Yeager brought in another run, Colin Gibbs pieced together a masterpiece at shortstop. The redshirt freshman snagged a line drive sailing toward right field before tossing the ball to Mendez at second base for a double play.
After another Mendez RBI double, Paul Jones hit his third rocket of the day into right field. His second grand slam of the evening earned him the program’s single-game record for most RBIs and tied the record for most home runs in a game.
Georgetown did have a late push in the top of the seventh inning. Deep into run-rule territory, the Hoyas banked two late runs. However, Maryland’s 15-run lead ended the contest.
Three things to know
1. Climbing the ladder. Paul Jones II’s 50 RBIs this season have him tied for 12th in the Big Ten. The only Terp above him on the list is Ryan Costello, who produced his 59th on Tuesday evening.
2. Back on the bump. Austin Weiss made his first appearance in exactly a month, coming off of an arm injury suffered against Indiana. Despite dealing with some shaky command, his ERA dropped to 7.04 Tuesday after only allowing one run.
3. Non-conference play. Maryland finished their season with an 11-3 midweek record, ending on an eight-game midweek streak. The Terps ended nonconference play 18-8 and completed its sweep over Georgetown on Tuesday.
