Maryland baseball: Terps fall to Iowa 4-1; game recap

Maryland's bats were quiet for the second straight game, and Iowa once again used a four-run inning to propel them to victory.

Taylor Bloom (3-1) came into Saturday's game having hurled back-to-back complete game victories. He pitched seven strong shutout innings tonight before giving way to the bullpen. That's when the wheels came off. Bunts, an error, and a seeing-eye single pushed four runs across.

Maryland's lone run came on a fourth inning home run off the bat of Kevin Biondic. Madison Nickens had three hits, but once again the Terps were held to five hits total.

After Biondic's home run the Terps were held scoreless. There was an opportunity to have a big inning in the top of the eighth. Kevin Smith doubled, Madison Nickens walked, and Nick Dunn was HBP: the Terps had the bases loaded and two out. But Nick Cieri grounded out to end the Maryland eighth.

So the game went to the bottom of the eighth with Maryland clinging onto a 1-0 lead. Robert Galligan came on to pitch. Robert Neustrom got his third hit of the day, a solid single to right. Joel Booker hit a high chopper that Dunn fielded, but Neustrom eluded the tag and the throw to first was late. Zach Daniels bunted and Biondic fielded it, but his throw went wide of Dunn at first. Neustrom came around to score and Booker went to third. Ryan Selmer relieved Galligan. Nick Roscetti got aboard on a bunt, but the runners didn't advance. Selmer struck out the next batter, but Tyler Peyton sliced a ball that just fell fair along the right field line to give Iowa a 3-1 lead. Roscetti came home on a safety squeeze and the Hawkeyes led 4-1.

Robert Galligan took the loss to go to 0-2, and the Terps fell to 10-12 (0-2 in the B1G). With the win Iowa has taken the series and looks to sweep the Terps on Sunday.