Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland baseball was defeated by Rutgers, 6-4, in game one of its series finale at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Thursday evening. Maryland is 26-28 overall and 11-17 in Big Ten play entering game two of the series.
The Terps scored first with an RBI single by Eddie Hacopian in the bottom of the first, but Rutgers (27-26, 14-14 Big Ten) responded with a four-run top of the second. Maryland cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth with a solo home run by Chris Hacopian and an RBI single by Jacob Orr. However, the Scarlet Knights got the runs back in the sixth and seventh innings. A final run driven in on a solo homer by Aden Hill wasn't enough.
Hacopian went 3-for-4 at the plate. His homer was his 13th home run of the season and 28th of his career, giving him his 100th career RBI in just two seasons as a Terp. Hacoipian now has 10 straight games with a hit, six of which are multi-hit games.
Hill's homer occurred in the eighth inning to bring the score to 6-4. It was his tenth of the season and 16th of his career, including six during his two seasons at VCU.
Maryland has hit 88 home runs this season, tied for the third-most for a single season in program history. The mark is tied with its home run output in 1985. The program record is 137 homers in 2022.
Eddie Hacopian finished 2-for-5, adding to his career marks in hits, RBIs and runs. He added a double to go along with his single.
Paul Jones II (2-for-4) and
Elijah Lambros (3-for-5) also recorded multiple hits.
Brayden Ryan started the game on the mound. Logan Hastings and Andrew Johnson both made relief appearances out of the bullpen. Hastings pitched five innings, allowing only two runs on three hits while also striking out two batters. Johnson finished the final two innings, allowing no runs, one hit and striking out three batters.
Breaking Down The Action
- Eddie Hacopian hit an RBI single up the middle, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Chris Hacopian singled, and Brayden Martin walked to put themselves in scoring position.
- Rutgers took a 4-1 lead in the second, highlighted by a two-run homer and two RBI singles.
- Logan Hastings pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the third.
- Hastings retired the side in order for a second time in the fifth.
- The Terps scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, with Chris Hacopian blasting a solo shot deep center and Jacob Orr hitting a RBI single. Maryland trailed 4-3 entering the sixth.
- The Scarlet Knights added a run in the top of the sixth, leading 5-3.
- Rutgers hit a solo run, increasing its lead back to three runs in the seventh.
- Andrew Johnson recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth.
- Aden Hill belted a solo home run in the bottom frame of the eighth, and Maryland trailed 6-4.
- Johnson struck out a batter for the first out, and Alex Calarco threw out a runner who attempted to steal second on a hit-and-run. Johnson then struck out the final batter to give the Terps a chance in the bottom of the ninth.
Terps In The Record Book
- Eddie Hacopian tallied two hits, giving him 229 in his three-year Maryland career. He ranks sixth in program history, as Dan Melvin (2004-07) is fifth with 231 career hits. Hacopian is one of just 14 players in Maryland history to record 200+ knocks.
- Hacopian recorded one RBI, giving him 144 for his career. He's seventh on the career RBIs list, breaking a tie entering the game with Scott Bronowicz (1995-98). Maxwell Costes (2019-22) and Mike Murphy (2006-09) are tied for fifth with 145 RBI.
- Hacopian scored one run, giving him 163 for his career. He ranks fifth in program history, as Chris Alleyne (2018-22) is fourth with 168.
- Brayden Martin walked once in the contest, giving him 59 on the season. He ranks second on the single-season walks leaderboard, breaking a tie entering the game with Derek Hacopian (1992). Luke Shliger (2023) holds the single-season record with 69.
- Chris Hacopian has 28 career home runs. He's tied for 12th all-time in a Maryland career with Kevin Keister (2021-24), Chris Smoot (1989-92) and Kevin Smith (2015-17). Craig Munroe (1999-00) is 11th with 29 homers in his career.
Numbers To Know
- 2: Jones recorded his second multi-hit game of the season.
- 10: Chris Hacopian has 10 straight games with a hit.
- 10: Hill has ten home runs this season as a Terp.
- 16: Hill has 16 home runs in his career, including six during his two seasons at VCU.
- 28: Martin has a 28-game on-base streak.
- 28: Chris Hacopian hit his 28th career home run and 13th of the season.
- 41: Chris Hacopian has 41 multi-hit games in his career.
- 41: Lambros has 41 multi-hit games in his career.
- 66: Eddie Hacopian has 66 multi-hit games in his career.
- 88: The Terps have hit 88 home runs this season, ranking tied for the third most for a single season in program history.
- 100: Chris Hacopian eclipsed 100 career RBIs.
Up Next
- Maryland plays game two against Rutgers tomorrow evening. The first pitch starts at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Plus and broadcast on the Maryland Baseball Network.
