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Alex Calarco Run Towards Home After Seventh Inning Grand Slam

Baseball

Calarco Mashes Another Grand Slam In Loss To Western Carolina, 8-7

Box Score CULLOWHEE, NC – Senior Alex Calarco notched back-to-back games with a grand slam. Still, Maryland baseball was defeated by Western Carolina, 8-7, in game one of the series at Hennon Stadium on Friday. The Terps are now 2-2 heading into game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Calarco had a career day, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs. He was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, as he also doubled and hit two singles. It was his second straight game with a grand slam after hitting one in his last outing against Mercyhurst. He hit two homers in that game and recorded a career-best seven RBIs. In just his last two games, Calarco has 12 RBIs. He leads the team and ranks second in the NCAA with 13 overall through four games. This was also his first game as a Terp since transferring from Northwestern last season, where he totaled three or more hits in a game. 

Calarco's grand slam gave the Terps three grand slams in their first four games, as Chris Hacopian hit the first one in the season opener. In 2023, Maryland hit grand slams in each of its first three games and a national-best 11 grand slams, the third-most by any team in the history of collegiate baseball. Nick Lorusso and Ian Petrutz hit two that season. 
  The slam by Calarco occurred in the top of the seventh and gave the Terps a 7-3 after being tied at 3-3. However, Western Carolina (2-3) plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.  

Hollis Porter went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and two runs. He has recorded multiple hits in his second straight game since transferring from Pearl River Community College. Hacopian drove in the other run on a sacrifice fly.   

Kyle McCoy made his second start on the mound this season. He pitched six innings, striking out two batters and surrendering three earned runs on seven hits. Andrew Koshy, making his first appearance in a Maryland uniform, and Ryan Van Buren came on in brief relief appearances. Andrew Johnson then pitched the final 1.1 innings. 
 
Breaking Down The Action
  • The Terps entered the scoring column early in the top of the first inning, plating two runs to lead 2-0. Hollis Porter doubled down the infield line to score Eddie Hacopian, and Alex Calarco drove in Porter with a single. 
  • Western Carolina took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning as Cole Jones hit a three-run home run. 
  • Maryland loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth. Chris Hacopian then drove in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly. 
  • The Catamounts put runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, but Kyle McCoy got out of the inning without allowing the go-ahead run. The game was still tied at 3-3. 
  • Calarco hit his second grand slam in the seventh, giving him back-to-back games with one. The Terps took a commanding 7-3 lead as Calarco had five RBIs in the game. 
  • In the bottom of the inning, Western Carolina plated five runs on four hits, including a two-run shot to begin the scoring. It took an 8-7 lead. 
Numbers To Know
  • 1: Koshy made his Maryland debut in relief on the mound after transferring from Wake Forest. 
  • 2: Porter had his second multi-hit game as a Terp, doing so consecutively. 
  • 2: Calarco has a grand slam in back-to-back games. 
  • 3: Calarco has three home runs in his last two games. 
  • 3: This is Maryland's third grand slam in four games. 
  • 3: Porter has an RBI in three of Maryland's first four games.  
  • 4: Crosland has been hit by a pitch in all four games this season. 
  • 5: Calarco has five three-hit games in his career. This was his first as a Terp. 
  • 7: The Terps have launched seven home runs over the four games this season. 
  • 13: Calarco leads the Terps with 13 RBIs through four games, ranking second-most in the NCAA. 
  • 16: Calarco has 16 home runs in his career, including eight as a Terp with four this season. 
  • 26: Calarco now has 26 multi-hit games in his career.  
Up Next
  • Maryland will play game two of the three-game series against Western Carolina tomorrow, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN+ and Maryland Baseball Network.
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Players Mentioned

Alex Calarco

#15 Alex Calarco

C/INF
6' 5"
Senior
Chris Hacopian

#10 Chris Hacopian

UTL
6' 1"
Sophomore
Eddie Hacopian

#3 Eddie Hacopian

INF
6' 3"
Senior
Andrew Johnson

#5 Andrew Johnson

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
Kyle McCoy

#22 Kyle McCoy

LHP
6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
Ryan Van Buren

#35 Ryan Van Buren

RHP
6' 4"
Senior
Andrew Koshy

#2 Andrew Koshy

RHP
6' 2"
Sophomore
Hollis Porter

#9 Hollis Porter

UTL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alex Calarco

#15 Alex Calarco

6' 5"
Senior
C/INF
Chris Hacopian

#10 Chris Hacopian

6' 1"
Sophomore
UTL
Eddie Hacopian

#3 Eddie Hacopian

6' 3"
Senior
INF
Andrew Johnson

#5 Andrew Johnson

6' 0"
Senior
LHP
Kyle McCoy

#22 Kyle McCoy

6' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
LHP
Ryan Van Buren

#35 Ryan Van Buren

6' 4"
Senior
RHP
Andrew Koshy

#2 Andrew Koshy

6' 2"
Sophomore
RHP
Hollis Porter

#9 Hollis Porter

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
UTL