COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Freshman right-handed pitcher Jake Yeager earned his first career win in his second career start as Maryland baseball defeated James Madison, 8-4, at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Tuesday. Maryland improved to 7-5 overall, heading into its Big Ten opening series against UCLA at home on Friday.
Yeager, the No. 1 ranked player and pitcher in the state of Maryland by Perfect Game and PrepBaseballReport, gave up just one hit in five innings. He struck out three batters and surrendered just one earned run.
In relief, Ryan Van Buren pitched 2.2 innings, also surrendering one run on one hit. However, he struck out a season-high four batters.
Andrew Koshy and
Andrew Johnson finished the game. The four pitchers surrendered a combined three hits, the fewest allowed in a game since giving up two in a 4-0 win over Albany on March 19, 2023.
Senior catcher Alex Calarco hit his eighth home run of the season on a two-run shot in the bottom of the seventh. His eight homers ranks tied for second in the NCAA with Alabama's Justin Lebron. His home run occurred in the bottom of the seventh inning, stretching Maryland's lead to 6-2. It was also the 20th blast of his career between his time at Northwestern and Maryland. Calarco now has 12 home runs in his Maryland career.
The senior finished his day going 2-for-5 with four RBIs, as he also hit a two RBI double in the fifth. He has 29 RBIs on the season, ranking second in the NCAA and trailing only Lebron.
Eddie Hacopian went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles. Hollis Porter was the other Terp to drive in a run, doing so on a sacrifice fly to right field. The Terps outscored the Dukes (5-7) from the fifth inning onward, 7-3.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Hollis Porter hit an RBI sacrifice fly.
- James Madison tied the game at the top of the second. However, it had bases loaded, and Jake Yeager got out of the jam as Bayden Martin turned a double play.
- Yeager pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and the Terps went into the bottom half tied 1-1.
- The Terps added three runs in the bottom frame of the fifth, highlighted by Alex Calarco doubling to left center to bring home two runners. Eddie Hacopian drove in the other run with a fielder's choice.
- The Dukes cut the Terps' lead in half with a solo home run in the seventh.
- Calarco launched a 415-foot two-run RBI homer to right center, giving Maryland a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
- James Madison hit an RBI single in the eighth inning.
- Hacopian doubled down the left field line in the eighth, driving in two more runs for Maryland.
- The Dukes attempted a late comeback, with a sacrifice fly to drive in a run in the final inning, but the Terps recorded the final three outs.
Numbers To Know
- 1: Yeager earned his first career win.
- 1: Koshy earned his first career save.
- 1: Terps earn their first home win of 2025.
- 3: Maryland's three hits surrendered were its least in a game since March 19, 2023.
- 4: Van Buren struck out a season-high four batters.
- 8: Calarco has eight home runs this season, tying for second in the NCAA.
- 12: Calarco has a 12-game hitting streak.
- 17: Calarco has a 17-game on-base streak
- 20: Calarco has 20 home runs in his career, including 12 as a Terp, with eight this season.
- 29: Calarco leads the Terps with 29 RBIs through 12 games.
- 31: Calarco has 31 multi-hit games in his career.
- 55: Hacopian recorded his 55th multi-hit game as a Terp.
- 800: The Terps earned their 800th win of all-time at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.
Up Next
- Maryland will host UCLA for a three-game series at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium for the first time in program history, starting with game one on Friday, March 7. The first pitch is at 4 p.m., and the game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
