Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland baseball lost vs. Rutgers, 9-4, in game two of its final series at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Friday evening. Maryland is 26-29 overall and 11-18 in Big Ten play entering its season finale.
Despite productive outings from Paul Jones II and Alex Calarco, the Terps offense struggled against the Scarlet Knights. Maryland took an early lead, but Rutgers (28-26, 15-14 Big Ten) put up six runs across the third and fourth innings, the bulk of the scoring in the contest.
With the result, Maryland fell just short of qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament. The Terps will close out their 2025 season with game three of their series against Rutgers on Sunday.
Paul Jones II struck first with a two-run home run in the second inning, the third homer of his freshman season. Alex Calarco also belted a solo homer in the fourth inning. This was his 18th home run of the season, which advanced him to 9th in program history for home runs in a season, tied with Benjamin Cowles (2021) and Paul Schager (1986).
Maryland has hit 90 home runs this season, the third-most for a single season in program history. The mark broke a tie entering the game of 88 home runs in 1985. The program record is 137 homers in 2022.
Calarco led the Terps offense, going 2-for-3 with one RBI, one double and two runs scored.
Jones II finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.
Kyle McCoy got the start for the Terps, pitching five innings before Ryan Van Buren pitched briefly in the sixth. Joey McMannis took over for the next 2.1 innings, only allowing one run. Devin Milberg came in to pitch a scoreless top of the ninth.
Breaking Down The Action
- Eddie Hacopian made an impressive grab at the left field wall to prevent a leadoff extra-base hit in the second inning.
- Paul Jones II smashed a two-run home run down the right field line in the bottom of the second, scoring Alex Calarco.
- Rutgers equalized in the top of the third inning with a two-RBI single, but Brayden Martin made a well-timed catch in front of the Terps dugout to strand the remaining Scarlet Knights runner.
- Rutgers scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning to bring the score to 6-2.
- Calarco answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
- The Scarlet Knights added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
- The Terps put up another run in the bottom of the sixth on a Jones II sacrifice groundout that scored Hollis Porter. Maryland then loaded the bases, but couldn't convert for another score in the inning.
- Rutgers scored their ninth run in the seventh inning, giving the Scarlet Knights a 9-4 advantage.
- Maryland hoped for a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh, as Porter reached on a single and Orr walked, but no one touched home.
Terps In The Record Book
- Alex Calarco has 18 home runs this season. He is now tied with Benjamin Cowles (2021) and Paul Schager (1986) for 9th most single season home runs in program history.
- Eddie Hacopian walked one time. He now has 97 career walks, tied for ninth in program history with Scott Bronowicz (1995-98).
Numbers To Know
- 3: Freshman Paul Jones II hit his third career home run in this game.
- 11: Aden Hill had his 11th stolen base of the season.
- 11: Hill has 11 home runs this season as a Terp.
- 21: Calarco has 21 home runs in his Maryland career, including 18 this season.
- 24: Calarco has 24 multi-hit games as a Terp.
- 24: Devin Milberg recorded his 24th strikeout of the season.
- 29: Martin has a 29-game on-base streak.
- 31: Eddie Hacopian has a 31-game on-base streak.
- 90: The Terps have hit 90 home runs this season, ranking as the third most for a single season in program history.
Up Next
- Maryland will play its series finale against Rutgers tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Plus and broadcast on the Maryland Baseball Network.
