Maryland baseball avoids consecutive sweeps with 11-7 victory over Rutgers
The Terps hit four home runs, including two from Paul Jones, to hold off Rutgers in an offensive slugfest.
Maryland baseball’s batting order put on its best offensive performance of the weekend against Rutgers. It tallied 14 hits across nine frames — a stark difference from Saturday night’s game, where the Terps failed to produce a run. A flurry of home runs brought the Terps to their first conference victory in over two weeks as they avoided a series sweep by the Scarlet Knights with an 11-7 win.
Maryland loaded the bases in the bottom of the first after a single from Ryan Costello, an error allowing David Mendez to reach and a walk for Bud Coombs. Paul Jones II knocked a single towards third base, and a fielder’s choice play allowed Costello to come home for the Terps’ first lead of the weekend. Rutgers used aggressive base running to keep it close, though.
Gabriel Rivera and Trey Wells hit consecutive singles, advancing even further on a wild pitch and a stolen second base. Jarod Ryan capped it off with a 399-foot blast. Coombs just barely missed the catch in deep center field, allowing three runs to score and giving the Scarlet Knights the lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Scarlet Knights struck again via Charlie Meglio’s solo shot to left field. Brayden Ryan’s fifth start of the season ended seconds later, lasting only one inning without a single strikeout. Andrew Koshy took over for his 23rd relief appearance of the year, inheriting a runner on second.