Facing a series finale against the No. 1 UCLA Bruins, Maryland baseball needed to keep the bats quiet if it hoped to cause a surprise.
But UCLA had run through two Maryland pitchers, who threw a combined total of 68 pitches and allowed seven runs, by the middle of the fourth inning.
Maryland ultimately fell 14-4 in the series finale at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. This marked the Terps’ second series sweep of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, freshman left-handed
pitcher Austin Weiss took the mound for his collegiate debut against the top-ranked team in the country. Weiss was ranked the No. 82 player and No. 8 left-handed pitcher in his class by Perfect Game — he tossed the first scoreless UCLA inning of the game.
Maryland’s lead-off hitter Brayden Martin was walked in the first inning and later claimed his 10th stolen base of the season after the Terps hadn’t attempted to steal a base in the series’ opening two games. Brayden Martin was followed by Ryan Costello and David Mendez, both of whom popped out only a couple feet from the wall.
Meanwhile, the Bruins entered the first inning with their bats on fire.
With runners on first and third, Roman Martin stepped to the plate and blasted the ball to the right field wall for a two-run triple. Payton Brennan grounded out to second base with only one out, sending a runner home and giving UCLA a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
UCLA scored another three runs in the following inning after a walk and two runners being hit by a pitch loaded the bases. Dean West singled to right field to bring in another run, causing Maryland to replace starter Jake Yeager with Logan Hastings.
Although Roch Cholowsky flew out to shallow right field, his out was immediately followed by a two-run single by Mulivai Levu. The Bruins had another three-run inning that ended after Roman Martin grounded into a double play.
The Terps were able to hold the Bruins to only one third-inning run, but were still trailing by seven.
In the top of the fourth, on the first pitch of his second at-bat of the game, redshirt freshman Ryan Costello launched a 401-foot home run over the right field wall. After missing Saturday’s game, Costello proved his worth by scoring Maryland’s first run of the game and recording his 10th home run of the season.
Although Costello’s home run was followed by three other Terps flying out, Weiss dominated the mound, stopping the Bruins from extending their lead any further in the fourth.
Sophomore Jackson Sirois started his first game since March 6 and made sure to make his mark. The sophomore singled to left field in the top of the fifth inning, bringing in another run for Maryland — his fifth RBI of the season.
Right-handed pitcher Jayson Torres took over for Weiss in the second half of the frame. After allowing two runners on base, Cholowsky singled through left field. The runner on second, Cashel Dugger, attempted to make his way home. Left fielder Jordan Crosland fielded the ball and launched it to catcher Rylen Stockton.
Stockton tagged Dugger’s helmet as he slid into the bag on the slide and was initially called safe. After Maryland challenged the call, Dugger was ruled out, marking a second scoreless inning for UCLA.
The Bruins notched four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it an 11-2 game after Ryan Bailey took over the mound for Torres.
The Terps scored another run in the next inning after UCLA placed Zach Strickland on the mound. Crosland blasted his sixth home run of the season over the left field wall to make it an 11-3 game.
Redshirt junior James Gladden took over for Bailey in the bottom of the seventh and pitched the remainder of the game.
Maryland was able to notch another run in the eighth but the Bruins offense found the insurance runs they needed.
UCLA’s third three-run inning in the bottom of the eighth enacted the run-rule as the Terps were down by 10. The rule was also enacted during Game 1 on Friday in the seventh inning when the Bruins defeated Maryland 12-2.
Three things to know
1. Four-game losing streak. Maryland held a five game winning streak during the end of February into early March. However, the Terps are currently facing a four-game losing streak following the series loss against UCLA and their game last Tuesday against Richmond. Maryland has won one out of its past eight games and will be facing another ranked team — No. 9 Virginia — this Tuesday.
2. Multiple hitters. Maryland recorded nine hits against UCLA on Sunday through eight different hitters. Although the Terps outhit the Bruins yesterday, 13-10, they only trailed by two hits on Sunday.
3. Six pitchers. On Saturday, the Terps only went through three pitchers to contain the Bruins. Six pitchers were used on Sunday — four only pitched one inning, throwing a combined total of five strikeouts and allowing nine walks.
