Maryland baseball drops series finale to No. 18 Michigan, 6-2

In Sunday’s finale of the opening B1G series for the Terps, Michigan was able to salvage a win, 6-2. The Terps hurt themselves by committing two errors, throwing two wild pitches, and allowing three passed balls.

Marty Costes and Will Watson each had two hits.

Control issues allow Michigan to take a 4-1 lead

Michigan got on the board in their first at-bat. Ako Thomas singled and went to second on a wild pitch, then advanced to third on a ground out. Michael Brdar hit a comebacker to Tyler Blohm, but the southpaw had trouble fielding the ball, and Thomas came home. It was Blohm’s first run surrendered in three starts. But like Saturday’s game, the Terps responded immediately. Nick Dunn sliced a double to left, and scored when Costes lined a single up the middle.

Michigan was able to take advantage of Terrapin miscues in the top of the fourth. Johnny Slater singled and Brdar walked. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third, and Slater scored on another passed ball on the next pitch.

Jared Price came in to pitch for the Terps. Drew Lugbauer laced a single to center to make it 3-1 Michigan. With two outs and the bases loaded, Lugbauer scored on a wild pitch. After Price walked Jonathan Englemann, Tayler Stiles took the mound for Maryland. He got Thomas to fly out to end the frame.

Michigan tacks on two more, Terps grab one back

Slater led off the fifth inning with a double. Brdar punched a fly ball over Dunn’s head to put runners on the corners. Lugbauer hit a line drive to second that Dunn was able to trap, but his only play was at first and Michigan extended its lead to 5-1. In the next inning, Nick Poirer blooped a double over AJ Lee’s head. Thomas singled and a Slater sacrifice fly made the score 6-1.

Maryland hadn’t scored since the first inning but scored a run in the bottom of the sixth. After a Costes lead-off single, Will Watson followed with an infield hit. Michigan brought in Mac Lozer. A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance a base. Kevin Smith’s RBI-sacrifice fly made the score 6-2.

John Murphy set down the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings. Hunter Parsons pitched a scoreless ninth.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Cieri laced a single to right and the Terps had some momentum when Lee followed with a walk. That momentum was halted when Danny Maynard flied out and Zach Jancarski grounded to short.

With the loss, Maryland falls to 15-8 overall and 2-1 in the B1G. Tyler Blohm took the loss to go to 4-2.