University of Maryland Athletics

Baseball 3/28/2026 2:00:00 PM

Terps Slug Three Homers in 6-4 Win Over No. 12 USC

A trio of Terps hit their first blasts of the season in Maryland’s first ranked win of the season.

Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD — Three different Terps hit their first homers of the season as Maryland upset No. 12 USC 6-4 at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Maryland handed the Trojans just their third off the season as the Terps improved to 12-14 (2-6 Big Ten) in 2026.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL: THE TERPS HAVE FLIPPED THE SCORELINE 🤸‍♂️#NCAABaseball x 🎥 B1G+ / @TerpsBaseball

pic.twitter.com/dxNo5nYD2a
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 28, 2026

Ty Kaunas smacked his first-career homer to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to plate a pair of runs and give Maryland its first lead of the afternoon. Kaunas, Jackson Sirois, David Mendez and Rylen Stockton all logged multi-hit games in the win.

Ty's first career homer gives Terps the lead 💥

Bottom 5
Terps 3, Trojans 2#DirtyTerps https://t.co/8pw6vRDnOz pic.twitter.com/etdHoUMC0A
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) March 28, 2026

Evan Smith threw a season-high five innings and limited the ranked Trojans to two runs on three hits during his solid outing. He collected a pair of strikeouts on his 103 pitches and left the game with Maryland holding a 3-2 lead, courtesy of Kaunas' blast.

After USC tied the game in the top of the seventh, Sirois left the yard for the first time as a Terp to put Maryland ahead 4-3. Two batters later, Brayden Martin ripped his first of the season out to right-center to cement a three-run inning and open a 6-3 lead.

Perfect time for your first homer of the season @JacksonSirois10‼️

Bottom 7
Terps 4, Trojans 3#DirtyTerps https://t.co/hciMpIKFde pic.twitter.com/WnHsneRmV6
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) March 28, 2026

Maryland's bullpen closed out the upset win as Cristofer Cespedes and Logan Hastings combined for four innings of two-run ball, giving the Terps a chance to go for the series win over the Trojans (25-3, 9-2 Big Ten) on Sunday at 1 PM.

How it Happened:

T2: USC got the scoring started with an RBI double off the wall.
B2: Stockton ripped a single up the middle for the Terps' first hit.
B3: Sirois and Kaunas both collected singles.
T4: USC doubled its lead with a solo shot to center field.
B4: Mendez led the inning off with a single and scored on Coombs' RBI knock.
B5: Kaunas' first-career homer plated two and gave Maryland a 3-2 lead.
T6: Cespedes collected back-to-back strikeouts to strand two in a scoreless frame.
B6: Stockton led the inning off with his second hit of the game.
T7: USC tied the game with a two-hit frame.
B7: Sirois' solo shot but Maryland back in front.
B7: Martin sent a two-run blast out to right-center to extend the lead to 6-3.
T9: USC crept within two with an RBI double.
T9: Hastings fanned the last two batters of the game to strand a man at third and seal the upset win.

Impact Performances:

Martin (LF): 1-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R.
Kaunas (SS): 2-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, R.
Sirois (3B): 2-4, HR (1), RBI, R.
Smith (SP): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 K.
Mendez (2B): 2-4, R.
Cespedes (RP): 2.0 IP, W (3-1), 3 H, 1 R, 3 K.
Aden Hill (RF): 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB.
Hastings (RP): 2.0 IP, S (3), 1 R, 1 H, 2 K.
Stockton (C): 2-4.

Number to Know:

1: Maryland grabbed its first-ever win over USC.
1: The Terps grabbed their first ranked win of 2026.
3: Maryland dealt USC just its third loss of the season.
3: All three homers from the Terps were the respective players' first of the season.
5: Smith's five-inning outing marked the longest of his season.
10: Maryland collected 10 hits in the win.
37: Martin's 37 hits lead the team.
56: Martin has reached safely in 56 straight games dating back to last season.

Up Next:

Maryland and USC wrap up their weekend series on Sunday at 1 PM. The game will air on B1G+ and the Maryland Radio Network.

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Players Mentioned

#18 Cristofer Cespedes: RHP; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#36 Logan Hastings: RHP; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#33 Aden Hill: OF; 6' 0"; Senior

#42 Brayden Martin: UTL; 5' 11"; Junior

#20 Evan Smith: LHP; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#10 Rylen Stockton: C; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#14 Jackson Sirois: INF; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 David Mendez: UTL; 5' 10"; Junior

#5 Ty Kaunas: INF; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#18 Cristofer Cespedes
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: RHP

#36 Logan Hastings
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: RHP

#33 Aden Hill
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OF

#42 Brayden Martin
: 5' 11"; Junior
: UTL

#20 Evan Smith
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LHP

#10 Rylen Stockton
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: C

#14 Jackson Sirois
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: INF

#9 David Mendez
: 5' 10"; Junior
: UTL

#5 Ty Kaunas
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: INF