Maryland (2-1) vs. Western Carolina (1-3)
February 21-23, 2025
Ronnie G. Childress Field at Hennon Stadium
3:00 p.m. (Note Time Change), 2:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m.
ESPN+
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland heads on the road for the second weekend in a row, traveling back to the South to face Western Carolina. This will be just the second meeting all-time between the two programs, with the last taking place on Feb. 25, 2012. Maryland came out on top in the game, winning a tight contest 3-0.
Friday's series-opening game time agaist Western Carolina has been moved to 3:00 p.m.
The Terps opened their season in Charleston, South Carolina in the Swig & Swine College Classic. The Terps began the season with a 6-3 win over UAB on Friday. Due to weather, the Terps played two games on Saturday to end its weekend. The Terp lost a close game to Ball State 5-3, before closing out the tournament with a 19-1 win over Mercyhurst.
Turn UP AC
- Alex Calarco had a big weekend for the Terps in Charleston, finishing with three home runs and an impressive eight RBI. Calarco hit all three home runs across the Terps two games on Saturday, including a two home run game against Mercyhurst.
- Calarco's first home run against Mercyhurst was a grand slam in the fifth inning, which was the second of the weekend for the Terps. Calarco hit his second home run of the game an inning later, clubbing a three-run shot over the center field wall. Calarco's seven RBI in the game were the most for a Terp since Nick Lorusso's eight-RBI game against Nebraska back on May 7, 2023. For Calarco, the game was also the first multi-home run game of his career.
Alex Calarco had himself a stellar opening weekend, clubbing three home runs and driving in eight. Calarco hit a grand slam against Mercyhurst, which was the first of his career and second for the Terps in the tournament.
Pitch Shows Out In Opening Weekend
- Maryland's pitching staff put on a dominant performance during opening weekend. The Terps allowed only six earned runs across its three games, for a combined ERA of 2.08. The staff held its batters to just 18 hits in Charleston and a batting average of .191, while finishing with 34 strikeouts.
- The Terps' starting rotation of Kyle McCoy, Joey McMannis, and Evan Smith got their seasons started off strong. The three pitchers threw a combined 12 innings and allowed just two earned runs for a 1.50 ERA. The trio had 16 strikeouts to just 3 walks, for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.3:1.
- Several newcomers had impressive debuts for the Terps. Transfer Jack Wren went three innings against Mercyhurst, tying his career high in strikeouts with six, while allowing just one hit. Devin Milberg followed Wren against Mercyhurst, throwing the final two innings of the game. Milberg struck out five batters in his outing, while also holding the Lakers to just one hit. Freshman Logan Hastings made his collegiate debut against Ball State, going two innings with a pair of punch outs and only one hit allowed.
The Hacopian Bros.
- Brothers Eddie and Chris Hacopian got off to strong starts to begin the season. Eddie hit .357 across the three games in Charleston, finishing with a pair of doubles and driving in three runs. Chris hit .375 during opening weekend, with a home run and six RBI. His homer was the first of the season for Maryland, and their first of two grand slams in the tournament.
- In his junior season, Eddie Hacopian finished the season with a .377 batting average with nine home runs and 51 RBI. Eddie was fourth in the Big Ten in both batting average and hits (83) a season ago. Following a successful junior campaign, Eddie earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was named Second Team All-East Region by the ABCA.
- The tradition of awarding the #3 jersey at Maryland continued this year, as Eddie Hacopian was named the team's captain and will wear the #3 jersey in 2025. The #3 is a huge honor for whoever is given the number for a given season as it embodies the three pillars of Maryland Baseball: toughness, ownership, and growth mindset.
- Chris Hacopian had one of the best freshman season in Maryland history. Chris finished his first season in college baseball with a .323 average and added 15 home runs and 42 RBI. Chris earned Second Team Freshman All-American accolades from D1Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game, becoming the first Terp to earn freshman all-American honors since Matt Shaw in 2021. In addition to those national honors, Chris was named Second Team All Big Ten and to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Chris's 15 home runs were the second-most in program history for a freshman, tied with Maxwell Costes who hit 15 in 2019. His 42 RBI in 2024 tied Brandon Lowe for the fourth-most in program history.
Chris Hacopian got the season started off in a big way, launching a grand slam in Maryland's season-opening win over UAB in Feb. 14. Hacopian's grand slam was a part of a weekend where the sophomore shortstop went .375 and had six RBI.
Continuing a Family Tradition
- Brayden Martin was an important piece for the Terps in his first season in College park a season ago. Martin finished 2024 playing in 55 games with 51 starts, batting .266 with a home run and 24 RBI.
- This season Martin switched to #42, following in the footsteps of his uncle Walt Williams who wore the #42 while starring for the Maryland's men's basketball program from 1988-92.
- Williams finished his Maryland career with 1,704 points, which is the 13th-most in program history. "The Wizard", as he is known in College Park, was a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year Awards as a senior, averaging 26.8 points per game. Following his playing days at Maryland, Williams was selected with the seventh pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by Sacramento and went on to play 11 season in the NBA.
- Martin got off to a great start in the Terps' opening weekend. The sophomore infielder .556 with two doubles and an RBI. Martin also showed off his speed on the basepaths, going 2-2 on stolen base attempts.
Brayden Martin is switching to the #42 this season, the same number worn by his uncle Walt Williams who starred with the Maryland men's basketball program from 1988-92
Freshmen on The Bump
- The Terrapins' pitching staff will feature several freshman pitchers who are expected to add to an already improved pitching staff from a season ago. The group includes the likes of Jake Yeager, Cristofer Cespedes, Logan Hastings, and Ryan Bailey
- Yeager comes to College Park as the #84 pitcher in the nation and the top-ranked player in the state of Maryland according to Perfect Game. Yeager was also named the 2024 Maryland Gatorade Pitcher of the Year while pitching at Archbishop Spalding. With the addition of Yeager, the Terps have signed the last three Gatorade Player of the Year honorees in Maryland (Chris Hacopian in 2022 & Joey McMannis in 2023).
- Cespedes was also one of the top high school pitching prospects nationally, ranking as the #218 player in the country and #1 pitcher in New York by Perfect Game. Cespedes should provide serious velocity to the Terps staff, having a fastball clocked as high as 97 MPH at North Rockland High School.
- Hastings is a local product from Huntingtown, Maryland. Hastings was a 2024 First Team All-State selection by PrepBaseballReport and was voted as the SMAC Pitcher of the Year.
- Bailey joins the Terps from New York, coming in as the 14th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the state according to Perfect Game. Bailey was twice named a First Team All-CHSAA selection in 2022 and 2023 at Iona Prep.
Jake Yeager is one of five freshman who will feature in Maryland's pitching staff. Yeager, the #84 player in the country according to Perfect Game, was the 2024 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year while pitching for Archbishop Spalding.
Scouting the Catamounts
- Western Carolina comes into the series after winning its home opener over USC Upstate 10-7. After falling behind 3-1 early, the Catamounts would score eight unanswered runs to take full control of the contest. USC Upstate would score four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it was not enough to complete the comeback as the Catamounts secured their first win of the season.
- On offense, Western Carolina is led early on by Jaylen Jones. The freshman is batting .500 through three games, and has a team-leading six RBI. Mason Holton has the lone home run for the Catamounts so far this season.
- On the pitching side, the Catamounts are led by their weekend rotation of Dusty Revis, Mason Holton, and Davis Wright. The trio lead a Western Carolina pitching staff that has 35 strikeouts through its first four games. Five Catamount pitchers lead the team with a 0.00 ERA.
Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center
- On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Maryland unveiled the new Stanley Bobb Baseball Performance Center. This will serve as the new indoor training facility for the Maryland Baseball program.
- This new state-of-the-art facility will allow baseball student-athletes the opportunity to train year round in a controlled environment, allowing them to continue to hone their skills regardless of the conditions.
- The 8,500 square foot facility will have defined spaces for both pitchers and hitters in a climate controlled environment. The facility features state-of-the-art technology.
- This project is one of the many as part of Maryland's Building Champions initiative, a campaign that enables investment in facility renovation and enhancement.
- The facility is named after the late Stanley Bobb, who pitched for the Terps from 1954-57. A member of the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Bobb was the starting pitcher in the dedication game at then-Shipley Field in 1954.
Last month, Maryland opened the Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center. The 8,500 square foot facility will have defined spaces for both pitchers and hitters in a climate controlled environment. The facility features state-of-the-art technology and will allow baseball student athletes to train year-round regardless of the conditions
