Maryland’s offense was on fire Saturday recording a season-high of five hits in one game — including a grand slam by redshirt sophomore Ryan Costello and 16 hits.
But a rough outing from Lance Williams in his first Saturday start of the year set the Terps back causing their lead to deteriorate each inning. Williams allowed six hits in his 2.1 innings, including two home runs, seven runs and two walks.
Reliever Brayden Ryan stepped into the game in the bottom of the third to limit the Buckeyes and did
so by recording a season-high of five strikeouts in his three innings.
The Terps ultimately fell, 14-12, at Ohio State on Saturday to clinch the series defeat.
After losing to the Buckeyes 10-8 in the series opener, both teams’ offenses stayed explosive in the second game — it was once again a 10-8 affair by the top of the fourth inning.
The Terps opened the first inning with a home run by Jordan Crosland. Ohio State’s leadoff hitter, Alex Bemis, sent the 1-2 pitch flying over the fence to immediately tie the game.
Maryland entered the second inning down one run before a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jackson Sirois brought home Rylen Stockton. Although the Terps quickly tied the game, Ohio State took back the lead after a two-run homer by CJ Reid. The blast was followed by a Noah Furcht double down the left field, making it a three run game.
But Maryland had a response. It loaded the bases with two perfect bunts to third base by Brayden Martin and Ty Kaunas and a single by Jordan Crosland, setting up redshirt freshman Ryan Costello for a picture-perfect moment.
With the Terps down three runs on an 0-2 count, Costello cleared the bases in one electrifying swing to put Maryland ahead. Soon after, Sirois blasted a two-run home run to left field to extend that lead.
Sirois recorded his first home run with Maryland just last week against USC, and he hasn’t stopped since — Saturday’s blast was his fourth in the past four games.
But the Buckeyes were game, launching three home runs in the bottom of the same inning to erase Maryland’s advantage.
Ohio State wasted no time catching up to the Terps after Dane Harvey began the third inning with a home run. After recording a walk and out, Lance Williams left the mound for Ryan Bailey.
Bailey recorded his first strikeout of the game before Ohio State’s designated hitter Mason Eckelman launched a two-run home run to center field.
Afterwards, Bemis doubled off the right center wall, and without delay, shortstop Henry Kaczmar slammed another two-run shot past left field. Brayden Ryan replaced Bailey and recorded the final out — his first strikeout — to end the five-run inning, but it was already 10-8 in favor of the Buckeyes.
Both teams remained scoreless throughout the fourth and fifth innings. Ryan recorded four more strikeouts, ultimately tallying a season-high of five in one game.
Maryland took back the lead with back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth. Crosland reached first after flying up to left center but the ball popped out of left fielder Bemis’s glove. A home run by the freshman Kaunas brought Crosland home and tied the game.
Not even a minute later, Costello launched his second home run of the game over the right field wall to give the Terps a two-run lead. Ohio State replaced starter Chris Domke for Jake Michalak to close out the inning, but the Buckeyes couldn’t get back to the dugout before Nate Hawton-Henley ripped an RBI triple.
The Buckeyes tied the game soon after with a two-run home run by Lee Ellis, though, and Maryland’s bats went cold in the following three innings.
The Terps created multiple scoring opportunities in the top of the eighth, but failed to bring in any runs. Costello’s drive toward the center field wall was snagged at the track by Miles Vandenheuvel. Stockton and Mendez both singled through each side of the field but were left on base after Sirois and Hawton-Henley struck out.
Three things to know
1. Home run frenzy. A total of 11 home runs were hit on Saturday; six from Ohio State and five from Maryland. The Terps’ total marked a new single-game season high.
2. Consistency out of the pen. Ryan recorded his most strikeouts in a game this season (6) and didn’t allow a walk. Hastings’ five punchouts were his second most strikeouts in a game so far, with five in the two innings he pitched.
3. Costello takes first. Costello’s grand slam marked his 12th home run of the season, tied with UCLA’s Will Gasparino for the Big Ten’s most. Then, the redshirt sophomore took the conference lead in the sixth inning with his 13th.
