Terps Ignite Late Game Comeback, Win 7-5

Friday, February 23

Corpus Christi, TX

7 PM

Maryland

4-1

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

3-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Maryland	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	7	9	2
A&M-Corpus Christi	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	10	0

Devin Russell Crosses Home Against Texas A&M Corpus Christi

2/23/2024 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Box Score

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Eddie Hacopian drove in the go-ahead run and Sam Hojnar belted a two-run home run as Maryland baseball rallied a comeback win over Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, 7-5, on Friday at Whataburger Field. It was the Terps' first game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic and second win of the season in a last at-bat.

T9| This is Sam Hojnar, and he hits dingers

Terps 7
AAMC 4#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/CjarN9Svlq
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 24, 2024

The Terps (4-1) trailed for six innings before tying the game with a three-run inning in the seventh. Relief pitcher Nate Haberthier then escaped a no-out bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning after the Terps turned a double play. The sequence of events led to another three-run inning for Maryland - one that sealed the game.

E8| Terps get a double play to get out of the bases loaded jam

Terps 4
AMCC 4#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/7pu56YjG0i
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 24, 2024

Haberthier pitched three scoreless innings and allowed just two hits as relief for right-handed pitcher Kenny Lippman. He received the win and Trystan Sarcone came in for the final inning and recorded the save.

Hojnar went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, a run and a walk. Hacopian also went 2-for-4, he added two runs and an RBI.

T9| EDDIE! EDDIE! EDDIE!

Terps 5
AAMC 4#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/qg6qHtX9rf
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 24, 2024

The Islanders (3-4) received 6.2 dominant innings from Matthew Watson. He struck out nine batters and allowed just five hits. However, the Islanders burned through four pitchers after Watson and surrendered the lead.

Issac Webb went 4-for-5 with four singles, three runs and a stolen base. Logan Vaughan drove in two runs with a single and sacrifice fly.

The game was the first of three on the docket for Maryland entering the weekend tournament slate. It was also the Terps' first meeting in program history with the Islanders.

Friday Nights are for the Terps!#DirtyTerps
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 24, 2024

Breaking Down The Action

T7| @shojnar ties it up‼️

Terps 4
AMCC 4#DirtyTerps pic.twitter.com/C9MQ9rji6Y
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) February 24, 2024

Eddie Hacopian started the game with a leadoff double on the first pitch and his brother Chris Hacopian singled up the middle to drive him home. Maryland took a quick 1-0 lead in the opening half of the first inning.
Corpus Christi loaded up the bases in the bottom half with no outs and grounded out into a double-play. One run scored in the process and a baserunner remained on third base. A single to left-center brought home the runner. Kenny Lippman struck out the final batter, but Corpus Christi took a 2-1 lead heading into the second inning.
After two Islanders got on base in the third, they each stole bases to enter scoring position. A single through the right side scored one run and the Terps were yet to record an out. Another run scored on a sacrifice fly double play. The Islanders led 4-1.
Elijah Lambros and Jacob Orr got on base and both runners attempted to steal a base. Lambros was safe at third, but Orr was thrown out at second. Maryland was unable to drive the Lambros home to bridge the gap.
Maryland made a pitching change in the sixth after two runners got on base with no outs. The bases were later loaded, but Nate Haberthier escaped the jam without allowing a run.
Orr singled up the middle in the second inning to bring home Devin Russell. The Islanders made two pitching changes and suddenly Maryland had the bases loaded. Sam Hojnar singled to the right side scoring Brayden Martin and Orr and the game was tied at 4-4. The Terps recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half.
Haberthier escaped a no-out bases-loaded jam in the eighth after the Terps turned a double-play.
Maryland keyed another three-run inning with an RBI single by Hacopian and a two-run blast by Hojnar to take a 7-4 lead in the ninth.
Trystan Sarcone entered the game and allowed one run in the bottom half, but later got the job done to secure the win.

Swope's Take
"Just a huge hit to tie it up there and then just an absolute bomb to go ahead late in the game," head coach Matt Swope said about Hojnar's performance. "Super happy for him. He also turned an elite double play to help us win."

From The Guys
"It's awesome playing behind a guy like Nate," Sam Hojnar said. "You can see from everywhere he has so much confidence on the mound. Bases loaded, both times he was in there in big spots and we didn't have any doubts that he was going to do his job. He just has that confidence on the mound and it's real easy to play behind him in a situation like that."

Numbers To Know

1: Nate Haberthier received his first win of the season.
1: Trystan Sarcone captured his first save of the season.
1: Sam Hojnar had his first multi-hit game and added his first home run of the season.
2: Maryland picked up its second win in a last at-bat.
2: Eddie Hacopian notched his second mult-hit game of the season.
2: Hojnar had his second multi-RBI game of the season, doing so in back-to-back games.
3: Haberthier pitched three scoreless innings.
4: Hojnar had a game-high four RBIs.

Up Next

Maryland is back in action tomorrow, Feb. 24 for its second game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic against Pittsburgh. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on FloBaseball and Maryland Baseball Network.