Maryland baseball’s bats cool off in 12-4 defeat to Michigan State

After its first Friday night conference victory, Maryland baseball failed to secure the series win against Michigan State on Saturday. The Terps went from outhitting the Spartans 17-12 in Game 1 to being outhit 12-9 in Game 2.

Maryland’s loss was fueled by errors and strikeouts as it fell to Michigan State, 12-4, to cut short a three-game win streak.

The Terps set the tone early during the second act of the weekend series with a three-run first inning, mirroring Friday’s opening frame. After Jordan Crosland reached on an error by Spartan third baseman CJ Deckinga, junior Brayden Martin singled up the middle to put runners on the corners.

Designated hitter Ryan Costello smashed an RBI single down the left-field line to open the game. Three pitches later, freshman Bud Coombs blasted a single down the left-field line, bringing in two runs to give the Terps a 3-0 lead.

The Spartans responded quicker Saturday than they did Friday, though. After a ground out to starting pitcher Brayden Ryan, Noah Bright doubled down the left-field line. He was brought home on an overthrow to first from Ryan as Khamaree Thomas advanced to second on a dribbler to the pitcher.

Following another groundout, Deckinga launched a two-run bomb over the left field wall, tying the match before catcher Devin Russell ended the inning by throwing out Ryan McKay on an attempted steal.

The Spartans notched a 1-2-3 inning against the Terps in the top of the second while extending their lead in the bottom of the inning after an error by Martin allowed a run to score.

Martin redeemed himself by recording the second out, and Ryan threw his first strikeout of the game to close the inning.

Maryland tied the game once again in the top of the third inning with an RBI single by David Mendez. The second baseman earned his 7th RBI of the series and extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

But that would be the last time a Terp crossed home plate on Saturday.

“After the good start and in that third tying it up, it just overall wasn’t a good enough effort offensively, defensively, on the mound, all of that,” head coach Matt Swope said.

Michigan State took back the lead in the bottom of the inning with a three-run homer over the right center wall by Parker Picot, making it a 7-4 game.

Two scoreless innings ensued as both defenses worked overtime. The Terps recorded another error in the top of the fourth after Crosland failed to corral a fly ball. Then, Coombs recorded a full-extension diving catch for the first out of the inning, with a subsequent double play retiring the side.