Maryland baseball’s bats stay quiet in 3-0 loss to Army

Maryland baseball’s offense struggled for the second straight game, failing to score en route to a 3-0 loss to Army on Saturday.

Like Friday’s series opener, the Terps only mustered four hits in the game. However, unlike one day ago, Maryland never put together a rally, allowing Army’s pitching to settle into the game from the get-go.

After stranding runners on second in back-to-back innings to start the game, the Terps struggled to get players back in scoring position again. Army starter Matt Ball shut Maryland down, as the Terps only had three hits through the first seven innings.

With two outs in the eighth, Tommy Gardiner’s double finally chased Ball, and gave the Terps their first runner in scoring position since the second. However, Marty Costes couldn’t come through, as he grounded out to end the inning. Jacob Carte retired all four Terps he faced to close the game for Army.

Tyler Blohm first encountered danger in the fourth inning after three easy frames. After the sophomore left-hander hit John McKenna, Matt Hudgins doubled and Costes overthrew cutoff man, allowing a run to score. Blohm still worked around the man on second to limit the damage.

In the fifth inning, Blohm struck out Tim Simoes, but Ty Friedrich dropped strike three and overthrew first, allowing Simoes to reach. After an infield single and a wild pitch, Army scored a second run on Drake Titus’ RBI groundout to third, making it 2-0. Blohm then loaded the bases with an intentional walk and a hit by pitch, but escaped the inning only allowing one run.

Despite those two innings, Blohm was solid on the day, as he only allowed one hit that reached the outfield. The lefty lasted six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two hit-by-pitches.

Kevin Biondic replaced Blohm on the mound in the seventh, moving Taylor Wright from third to first and Tommy Gardiner from DH to third. The ball immediately found the pair of infielders, as Gardiner under threw Wright on a ground ball, allowing a runner to reach base. Biondic struck out the next two batters, but McKenna dropped a bloop single in right field, scoring the man on second and extending Army’s lead to three.

Biondic finished with three scoreless innings, striking out five and only allowing the one hit in his span. Despite the slight hiccup, Biondic kept Maryland in the game.

Maryland will try and avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon. These two teams are scheduled to play the season finale at 1 p.m. ET.