Maryland baseball neutralized in 8-inning, 10-0 defeat to Rutgers

Maryland baseball has long needed its starting pitching rotation to step up, and one of the key players it elevated in the hopes of getting that was pitcher Logan Hastings.

That move has come with mixed results. Having allowed 15 runs over his previous three starts, Hastings needed a strong outing against Rutgers. For three innings, he provided it, not allowing a hit.

For some time, it appeared that Saturday’s rain-delayed game would become a pitcher’s battle. But as Hastings faded and the Terps’ bullpen disappointed, Rutgers pitcher Vincent Barghese turned his hot start into a fiery outing, allowing just one hit as the Terps fell to a series-clinching, 10-0 defeat in New Jersey.

The damage dealt by Rutgers came from unexpected sources lower in its batting order. Freshman outfielder Ryan Wiltsey entered the game with seven hits and one RBI on the season and added two hits and two RBIs.

Most critical for the Scarlet Knights was production from shortstop Jomar Carreras. The sophomore hadn’t gotten on base in four straight games before Saturday. In the 10-0 victory, he went 4-for-5, knocking in three RBIs and crossing home plate himself twice.

Only one ball was batted into play through three innings, when Maryland second baseman David Mendez fielded a slow bobbler and elected to put the lead runner out on a fielder’s choice. Barghese and Hastings each struck out two batters in the first frame — the Scarlet Knight finished with eight total strikeouts, and the Terp finished with five.

The first hit of the game finally came in the fourth inning, when Carreras slid a double through Maryland’s shift. However, replays showed the Rutgers player popped off the bag briefly after tagging it with Ty Kaunas’ glove squarely between his shoulder blades. The Terps didn’t challenge the call.

Hastings issued a walk to the next batter, presenting the first scoring chance of the game for either team. Wiltsey sent a ground ball into left-center field four pitches later, allowing Carreras to come racing home from second. He narrowly avoided the tag after a strong throw home from Crosland.

The Terps’ first hit of the game finally arrived in the fifth inning, when Paul Jones II laced a grounder beyond Rutgers first baseman Ryan Jaros. However, that was it — Maryland couldn’t find another hit in its next 13 at-bats.

Rutgers doubled its lead after Chase Krewson doubled and then advanced on two sacrifice bunts. A hit by pitch and a walk put two more Scarlet Knights on the bases, and they came home on a Yomar Carreras triple.