Maryland baseball bows to Ohio State, 10-8

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Maryland baseball relief pitcher Cristofer Cespedes kicked his foot before dealing to Ohio State third baseman Maddix Simpson with one out and runners at first and second. Simpson stepped into his swing as the ball sped toward him and blasted it towards center field. As the ball flew over center fielder Bud Coombs’ head, the Buckeyes rounded the bases as Simpson’s three-run home run blew the game wide open.

Though the Terps began to rally late in the game to shave the seven-run deficit, Simpson’s three-run moonshot ultimately cost Maryland the series opener in a 10-8 defeat. The first and third innings ended without any runs, but the second opened with much more action. Maryland’s David Mendez singled up the middle, eventually advancing to second on the back of a fly-out from third baseman Jackson Sirois.

Brayden Martin knocked a double to left field, bringing home Mendez from second base for Martin’s 21st RBI of the season. Ty Kaunas did the same just two pitches later, allowing freshman Bud Coombs to come around the horn to double the Terps’ lead before a fly out and a strikeout ended the top of the second. Ohio State wasn’t down for the count, though.

Buckeye Miles Vandenheuvel swung on a 1-2 count with an out away in the bottom of the second, hitting the ball towards left field. Maryland shortstop Ty Kaunas called the ball in midair, but it hit the edge of his glove and bounced away, allowing Ohio State’s Dane Harvey to score. Left fielder Jordan Crosland recovered the fallen ball and threw it too hard towards Sirois at third base.