COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland baseball was defeated by UCLA, 12-6, in 10 innings of game one of its Big Ten opening series at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Friday. The Terps sit at 7-6 overall and are back in action against the Bruins tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The Bruins (11-3) scored six runs in the top of the 10th to secure the win. An RBI single brought in the go-ahead run, and a walk with bases loaded increased UCLA's lead to 8-6. Mulivai Levu then cleared the bases with a grand slam.
Chris Hacopian was the one who tied the game at six apiece and sent the game to extras with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. It was the sophomore's fourth long ball of the season and the 19th of his career. Setting up the game-tying slam, UCLA's Roch Cholowsky belted a three-run go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth with two outs.
Alex Calarco, the national hitter of the month by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, ranks among the top three in the NCAA in home runs and RBIs. He belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first, which were the game's first runs. He has 21 homers in his career, including 13 in two seasons as a Terp. Through 13 games this season, he has 31 RBIs. Calarco is also riding a 13-game hitting streak. And 18-game on-base streak dating back to last season.
Aden Hill also homered for the Terps. His was a solo shot in the fifth. It was the 10th of his career and fourth as a Terp since transferring from VCU. He finished the game going 2-for-4. Maryland scored its other two runs as
Jacob Orr scored on a wild pitch and
Brayden Martin earned an RBI on a bases loaded walk. Orr was the other Terp to record multiple hits, going 2-for-5 and scoring a run.
Kyle McCoy pitched 6.1 innings, surrendering three runs on just four hits. He also struck out eight batters while not allowing a runner in scoring position until the seventh inning.
Jack Wren,
Andrew Johnson and
Ryan Van Buren combined to finish the game on the mound.
This was Maryland's first meeting with UCLA since the 2015 NCAA Tournament, when the Terps defeated the Bruins 2-1 to advance to their second consecutive super regional.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps took a 2-0 lead as Alex Calarco hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
- Aden Hill extended the Maryland lead to 3-0 with a solo homer in the fifth. Jacob Orr also scored in the inning, coming home on a wild pitch.
- Brayden Martin drew a walk with bases loaded in the sixth, increasing Maryland's lead to 5-0.
- UCLA scored three runs in the seventh to make it a 5-3 game.
- UCLA's Roch Cholowsky belted a three-run go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth with two outs. The Bruins took a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
- Chris Hacopian homered to center field to tie the game at six apiece and send the game to extras.
- The Bruins scored six runs in the top of the 10th to secure the win. An RBI single brought in the go-ahead run, and a walk with bases loaded increased UCLA's lead to 8-6. Mulivai Levu then cleared the bases with a grand slam.
Numbers To Know
- 9: Calarco has nine home runs this season.
- 10: Hill has 10 career home runs, including four this season as a Terp.
- 13: Calarco has a 13-game hitting streak.
- 18: Calarco has an 18-game on-base streak
- 19: Hacopian hit his 19th career home run and his fourth of the season.
- 21: Calarco has 21 home runs in his career, including 13 as a Terp.
- 24: The Terps have launched 24 home runs over the 13 games this season.
- 24: Hill has 24 multi-hit games in his career, including five as a Terp.
- 28: Orr has 28 multi-hit games in his career.
- 31: Calarco leads the Terps with 31 RBIs through 13 games.
Up Next
- Maryland will play game two against UCLA tomorrow at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus and broadcast on Maryland Baseball Network.
