Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland baseball trailed 12-8 entering the bottom of the eighth inning and scored five runs in the final two innings to defeat UMBC, 13-12, at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Wednesday. Sam Hojnar walked it off with a two-RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to complete the wild comeback.
It was the Cardiac Terps' 12th comeback win, ninth win in a last at-bat and third walk-off win of the season. They're also 8-1 in one-run games. Hojnar finished with a career-high six RBIs, three hits and a run.
Maryland (21-8) scored seven unanswered runs through the first two innings. UMBC (10-15) later took the lead in the seventh after Justin Taylor hit a grand slam to break an 8-8 tie. Chris Hacopian hit an RBI triple and Hojnar hit an RBI single in the eighth to cut the Terps' deficit to 12-10.
The Terrapins were down to their final three outs entering the ninth but Hacopian and Hojnar once again collaborated, this time ending the game in dramatic fashion. Hacopian hit an RBI single and Eddie Hacopian walked to set Hojnar up and he delivered. Chris Hacopian went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs.
Elijah Lambros clubbed a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, in the second inning. Lambros has home runs in back-to-back games.
Eddie Hacopian, Kevin Keister and Devin Russell each recorded batted in a run. Freshman Brayden Martin scored a career-high four runs.
The Terps deployed six pitchers in the contest. Alex Walsh earned his first win of the season after pitching 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings. Ryan Van Buren earned the start and struck out four batters in 2.2 innings.
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 early lead. Sam Hojnar grounded out to first base, but Brayden Martin scored from second base.
- The Terps added to their lead with a six-run second inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Devin Russell hit a sacrifice fly, allowing the runner from third base to tag up and score. Elijah Lambros then clubbed a two-run home run to center field. Two runners got on base for Hojnar and he brought them both home with a two RBI single. Kevin Keister finished the onslaught with an RBI double.
- UMBC scored four runs in the top of the third but trailed 7-4. Two RBI singles sandwiched between a two-run RBI single got the Retrievers back in the game.
- Four Terps walked in the third inning to score Lambros and they led 8-4. Eddie Hacopian was credited with the RBI walk.
- The Retrievers re-captured a run on an RBI double to trail 8-5 in the fourth inning.
- UMBC tied the game at 8-8 with a three-run home run by Matt Ryan.
- The Retrievers loaded the bases in the seventh inning and Justin Taylor cleared the bases with a grand slam. UMBC took a 12-8 lead.
- Chris Hacopian hit an RBI triple in the eighth inning to score Martin. Hojnar followed with an RBI single to trail 12-10.
- C. Hacopian hit an RBI single in the ninth to extend the game and trail 12-11. E. Hacopian walked to load the bases and Hojnar ripped his third hit of the day and drove home two runs to give the Terps a 13-12 walk-off win.
Swope's Take On The Walk-Off Win
"I think it's a culture thing to be honest," head coach
Matt Swope said. "If anybody has been following us for the last three or four years, no lead is safe. We've always had that mantra and the guys truly believe that It can be done throughout the lineup. It's not one person. It's not
Matt Shaw, It's not just
Chris Hacopian this year. Everybody is contributing over these years. That's what we preach about as an offense is handing it off."
Hojnar On His Career Performance
"[I've] just been kind of doing the same thing that I've been working on with Coach Swope and some of the other guys," he said. "Just focusing on getting the right pitch and trusting the speed of my hands. Just trusting the process and trusting that my swing is going to work and it worked today."
Numbers To Know
- 1: Alex Walsh earned his first win of the season.
- 3: It was Maryland's third walk-off win this season.
- 4: Brayden Martin scored a career-high four runs.
- 6: Sam Hojnar recorded a career-high six RBIs in the game.
- 8: Maryland is 8-1 in one-run games.
- 9: Maryland has nine wins in a last at-bat this season.
- 12: The win was Maryland's 12th comeback win of the season.
- 13: Chris Hacopian recorded the 13th multi-hit game of his freshman campaign.
- 14: Hojnar notched his 14th career game with three or more RBIs.
- 15: The Terps have won 15 consecutive games against the Retrievers.
- 18: Elijah Lambros hit his 18th career home run.
- 22: Alex Calarco recorded the 22nd multi-hit game of his career.
- 28: Hojnar recorded multiple hits for the 28th time in his career.
- 41: Maryland is 41-13-1 all-time against UMBC.
- 57: Maryland is outscoring its opponents 57-19 in the eighth inning or later.
Up Next
- Maryland will play Indiana in game one of a three-game series at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on April 5. First pitch is at 6 pm and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and the Maryland Baseball Network.
