Maryland at Georgia Southern
February 16-18, 2024
J.I. Clements Stadium
6:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland opens the 2024 season with a road trip to the Georgia Southern Eagles. This meeting between the two squads is their first in over 43 years. Maryland enter the season in their first under new head coach
Matt Swope. Swope, a 2003 Maryland alum, served in various roles within the program for 11 years, before being named the head coach ahead of the 2024 season.
The only meeting between the two teams took place on March 13, 1980, with the Eagles taking a 5-4 win over the Terrapins.
Georgia Southern (27-29, 16-14 in Sun Belt), finished ninth in the Sun Belt a season ago, and closed out their 2023 with a loss to Georgia State in the Sun Belt Tournament.
The Big Ten defending champion Terrapins, who played in their third consecutive NCAA Regional in 2023, return two players who received all-conference accolades a season ago. Elijah Lambros returns after garnering All-Big Ten Third Team honors after his 14 home run, 56 RBI performance in 2023. Kyle McCoy returns for his second season in College Park after a freshman year that saw him named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Also back is senior Kevin Keister who was named first team all-conference in 2022 and takes over the mantle of captain in 2024.
New Era In College Park
- A new era in Maryland baseball began on June 12, 2023, when Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics named Matt Swope as the head coach of the Terrapins. Swope becomes the ninth head coach in Maryland's 132-year history.
- Swope, who has been associated with the program for more than two decades, becomes the first Maryland baseball alum to lead the team as head coach since Tom Bradley ('72). Bradley led the Terrapins from 1991-2000 and recruited Swope to Maryland in 1998.
- Over the last two seasons as associate head coach, Swope helped lead the Terps to 90 wins, the two winningest seasons in program history as the Terps went 48-14 in 2022 and 42-21 in 2023, in winning Big Ten Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Regionals in both seasons.
- Leading the Terrapins hitting program as associate head coach, Swope oversaw and offense that shattered multiple records. The Terps set records for most home runs (137), most hits (684), most runs (578), most RBIs (552), highest slugging percentage (.564), and most walks (385).
- Swope was a four-year starter and had an illustrious career in College Park from 1999-2002. Swope finished his career with a .331 batting average, 16 home runs, and 135 RBI. He still stands second in runs scored (181), and hits (253), fifth in walks (106), seventh in total bases (360), ninth in RBI, and 10th in stolen bases (44).
Matt Swope begins his first year as head coach of the Maryland terrapins. Swope has been involved with program for almost two decades, and becomes the second former player to lead the team as head coach.
Where We've Been
The Terps won their first Big Ten Tournament title in 2023, while also capturing their second consecutive regular season title. The Terps also went to their third-straight NCAA Tournament, marking the first time the program has advanced to postseason play three years in a row.
big Ten Honors
- The Big Ten released its preseason poll on Wednesday, with the Terps picked to finish third overall. This comes off the heels of the Terps winning back-to-back Big ten regular season titles and winning the Big Ten Tournament title for the first time in program history in 2023.
- The trio of C/DH Alex Calarco, 2B Sam Hojnar, and 3B Chris Hacopian, were featured on the conference's Players to Watch List. Calarco and Hojnar are not new faces to the Big Ten as both transferred from programs within the conference to Maryland, with Calarco joining the Terps from Northwestern and Hojnar coming from Iowa.
- Calarco comes to Maryland after two season with the Wilscats. While in Evanston, Calarco produced four home runs, 35 RBI, and 18 doubles. Most of this prduction came during the 2023 season, which also saw Calarco hit for an impressive .287 batting average.
- Hojnar begins his time in College Park in 2024 after two season with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Naperville, Illinois product slugged 10 homers and drove in 70 runs dring his time in Iowa City. Like Calarco, most of this production came during the 2023 season for Hojnar, with the second baseman hitting all ten of his home runs while knocking in 59 of his 70 RBI with 57 starts during the year.
- Hacopian comes into his freshman season with the Terps, joining his brother Eddie who played his first year with the Terps durung the 2023 season. Hacopian becomes the third Hacopina to play for the Terps, as their father Derek Hacopian played for the Terps in the early 90s and was ACC Player of the Year in 1992. Hacopian was ranked as the No. 2 shortstop in Maryland by Perfect Game.
Alex Calarco was named to the Big Ten's Players To Watch List on Wednesday. Calarco is a transfer C/DH from Northwestern, who brings an experienced baat into the terps lineup.
Old faces In New Places
- The Terps have some new faces coming into the program in 2024, many of whom bring a lot of college experience to College Park. The Terps will have a new look in 2024, with 12 transfers accounting for a total of 25 newcomers to the roster.
- Sam Hojnar joins the Terps from Big Ten foe Iowa in 2024. Hojnar comes to the Terps after starting in 48 games for the Hawkeyes in 2024, hitting for a .255 average with 10 home runs and driving in 59 runs. Another addition from the Big Ten is Alex Calarco from Northwestern. Last season for the Wildcats, Calarco was second on the team in RBI (29), third in batting average 9.287), and tied for fourth in home runs (four).
- There is also some D-III flair coming to the Terps in 2024. Ben Nardi joins the Terps after after four years with Catholic University. At Catholic, Nardi is the program and Landmark Conference leader in home runs with 29. He was also a D-III Second Team All-Region Selection in 2023. Charlie Glennon comes to the Terps from Denison as a catcher, joining current Terps pitcher Kenny Lippman who joined the Terps from Denison ahead of the 2023 season. Like Nardi, Glennon was also a D-III Second Team All-Region performer and finished .345 average, eight home runs, 49 RBI, and an impressive 24 stolen bases.
- On the mound the Terps bring in multiple pitchers, all bringing a diverse skill set and experience to the building. Leading the pack is Omar Melendez, who joins the Terps from Alabama State where he was named an All-American by the NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball, and ABCA. Melendez finished his 2023 campaign with a 12-0 record, 2.52 ERA, and 96 strikeouts. Logan Koester joins the Terps from George Washington, where he led the A-10 with 89.2 innings pitched and led the Revolutionaries in wins. Alex Walsh comes from Lafayette where he recorded a 6-3 record with a 3.71 ERA across 63.0, earning him First Team All-Patriot League honors in 2023.
Logan Koester joins the rotation in 2024 after transferring from George Washington. Koester was a key force for The Revolutionaries in 2023, leading the Atlantic-10 in innings pitched and was secind on the team with 53 strikeoouts
Freshman Ready to Play Big Roles
- Multiple freshman look to play key roles for the Terps in the 2024 season. The Terps bring in 13 freshman to College Park for the 2024 season.
- Jordan Crosland, a Suffolk, Virginia native, will be a key force for the Terrapins this season. Crosland comes to the Terps as one of the top ranked players in Virginia, and was ranked as the No. 1 shortstop in the state.
- Chris Hacopian continues the tradition of Hacopians' playing at Maryland. Chris joins his brother Eddie, as both will feature in the infield for the Terps during the 2024 season. Their father, Derek, played at Maryland and was the ACC Player of the Year in 1992 and won the triple crown. Hacopian was ranked as the No. 2 shortstop in Maryland by Perfect Game.
- Another local product featuring for the Terps, Brayden Martin joins the aforementioned Crosland and Hacopian in the lineup for the Terps. Martin, a Bowie native, flipped his commitment from Florida State to stay home with Maryland. Martin was ranked as the No. 3 shortstop in Maryland by Perfect Game.
Jordan Crosland looks to play a big role for the Terps in his freshman season. The Suffolk, Virginia native was ranked as the No. 1 Shortstop in Virginia in 2023 by Perfect Game.
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