Maryland’s bullpen unraveled, allowing eight runs in six innings as the Terps fell to Richmond 10-3.
The Terps came in off two games where their starters shined, only needing one inning out of a reliever in two games. However, Maryland needed its bullpen to win this game, and the relievers failed to keep their team in it.
Mark DiLuia got the start but had a rocky first inning, giving up a two-run home run to D.J. Lee. However, DiLuia settled down a bit, holding Richmond scoreless for the next two frames. The righty only pitched three total innings, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Mike Vasturia came in to relieve DiLuia, and after a scoreless fourth inning allowed a run on three hits in the fifth to give Richmond a one-run lead.
Maryland’s bullpen faced its most trouble trouble in the sixth, when Richmond broke the game open already up 3-2. Sean Fisher started the inning, but he loaded the bases without allowing a hit and left the game without recording an out. Elliot Zoellner came in to try and limit damage, but he allowed four singles, which scored five runs in total. Zoellner only got one out before Rob Vaughn took him out of the game.
With the bases loaded and only one out, Grant Burleson became the third Terps pitcher in the sixth inning, allowing a walk before getting the final two outs of the inning. In total, Maryland allowed six runs in the inning, with Fisher and Zoellner both credited with three earned runs a piece, and left the inning down 9-2.
After not pitching against Stetson over the weekend, John Murphy came on to pitch the seventh, but even he struggled. The Terps’ closer allowed a solo home run and two singles in the inning, needing 22 pitches to get through the frame. Billy Phillips was the only Maryland pitcher to excel, pitching a perfect eighth inning.
Offensively, Maryland was very boom-or-bust on the day. Kevin Biondic, Zach Jancarski and Justin Vought each hit a home run, but the Terps only recorded four hits during the game. For Vought, the homer was the first hit of his collegiate career, as he came into the game 0-for-11 with three walks in his freshman season.
Unlike Maryland’s bullpen, Richmond’s relievers got the job done. Starter Lowell Schipper only lasted 3.1 innings, allowing both Biondic’s and Jancarski’s home runs, but the Spiders’ bullpen only allowed two hits and one run through 6.2 innings despite using five pitchers. As a whole, Richmond recorded 12 strikeouts, as all but one Terp struck out at least one time.
Maryland returns home this weekend as it opens Big Ten play against Northwestern. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.