With Terps ace Hunter Parsons taking to the mound following his worst start of the season against East Carolina, a bounce-back start versus the Creighton Bluejays was the only thing on his mind as he attempted to right the ship of his season. However, the wind would not be working in Parsons’ favor.

In the brisk, windy College Park weather, one would think that there was a home run derby taking place at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium as the Bluejays and Terrapins slugged four home runs en route to a 3-2 Terrapins loss.

The home run barrage began immediately after the 7:00 p.m first pitch with Creighton second baseman Isaac Collins hitting a near-foul leadoff home run. After a brief review to confirm that the ball landed within the foul poles, the Bluejays were off to a quick 1-0 lead. The leadoff home run was the first home run of its kind given up in Hunter Parsons’ career.

Creighton’s bats weren’t done yet as senior Jordan Hovey started the second inning the same way his teammate Collins lead off the first. This time, the wind carried the barreled ball far over the head of Terps left fielder Caleb Walls as the Bluejays doubled their lead. Later in the inning, Bluejays sophomore David Vilches would hit his own home run to give Creighton a 3-0 lead.

The Terrapins would finally create some longball action themselves in the fifth inning when Randy Bednar hit his now team-leading fourth home run of the season. With a runner already on base, the home run cut the Bluejays lead to 3-2.

The one home run would be all the offense the Terps could muster up against Creighton’s starting pitcher, senior Mitch Ragan. Ragan, who has struggled for most of the 2019 season as the Bluejays ace, put up his best start of the season by surrendering just two runs on five hits while striking out ten Terrapins during his seven innings of work.

While Hunter Parsons was the losing pitcher, he didn’t pitch that much worse than Ragan. Outside of the three solo homers Parsons let up in the first two innings, he had allowed one hit for the last six innings he pitched all while striking out his own ten batters. Unfortunately, the exceptional start from Parsons wasn’t enough for the Terps as they drop the series opener to the Bluejays.

Tomorrow, the Terps will have a chance to even the series with Zach Thompson on the mound, who’s coming off a start against East Carolina in which he only gave up two earned runs through eight innings of work.