Maryland baseball uses the long ball to beat Saint Joseph’s, 11-5

In a little bit of deja vu from the day before, Maryland baseball fell behind early, but was able to fight back to win, 11-5, thanks in large part to a huge six-run eighth inning. It was the Terps’ fifth win in a row.

Justin Morris, Marty Costes and A.J. Lee all homered in the ballgame. But it was Madison Nickens’ clutch dinger in the bottom of the eighth that put the Terps ahead for good. This was the first time that Maryland hit four home runs in a game since Feb. 16, 2016 against Rhode Island.

Also, for the second day in a row, Maryland got big innings from the bullpen as Cameron Enck was unable to finish the second inning. This came after Hunter Parsons pitched only an 1.2 innings on Tuesday.

The scoring got started in the second after the Terps couldn’t capitalize with two men in scoring position in the bottom of the first. Enck looked much different in his second inning of work, allowing the first two runners on. The sophomore starter was eventually pulled after allowing a run and loading the bases with no outs. Tayler Stiles did well to get out of the inning, but not until the Hawks had another three runners cross the plate to put the Terps down early, 4-0.

But just like in yesterday’s game, Maryland offered a quick answer to their opponent’s rally. Will Watson singled, moved to second on a pass ball and eventually scored on a groundout from Lee. Morris provided much quicker damage when he homered to left center, pushing the midweek contest to within two runs.

Costes would eventually draw the Terps even in the third when he powered an opposite-field, two-run bomb to tie the game at 4-4. This was the right fielder’s second homer of the season.

The game would settle down for a little bit, with Stiles righting the ship for Maryland. It wasn’t until bottom of the sixth when Lee put Maryland ahead for the first time in the ballgame, hitting a solo home run over the left field wall. But the lead wouldn’t last for very long. In the top of the seventh, St. Joseph’s would strike back with a run of their own when Brandon Gum decided to take the the sure out at first on a grounder that allowed the tying run to score.

St. Joseph’s threatened to take the lead again in their next at bats, placing runners on second and third with just one out. Mike Rescigno was up to the challenge, getting a strikeout and using a great play from Kevin Smith and a nice scoop by Gum at first to escape without any damage done.

The momentum would shift completely in the next half inning when Nickens pushed the Terps ahead with his second home run of the season. Maryland continued to put up runs, using a combination of timely hitting and a couple of St. Joseph’s miscues to score five more in the inning.

Maryland will put its five-game winning streak on the line against Bryant University on Friday at 4 p.m. for the first of a home three-game set.