It’s been 16 years since Maryland baseball last won three consecutive conference series.

This weekend against Ohio State, the Terps can accomplish the feat for the second time this century. The last occurrence was in 2003 when Maryland won three straight series against former ACC foes Clemson, Duke and NC State.

That season ended at 20-33 after the Terps lost in a play-in game of the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed. But a series win against the Buckeyes this weekend would potentially help Maryland rise higher than the current fifth-place position in the conference standings with one month left in the regular season.

But the Buckeyes are hot, winning five of their last six games, including a convincing series win against Michigan last week. While Ohio State took down a perennial conference contender in the Wolverines, it was swept by a Northwestern team that Maryland just beat twice on the road.

Ohio State has played nine of its last 10 games at home in Bill Davis Stadium, but will visit a ballpark that Maryland has struggled in this season with a 6-10 record, and most recently, suffered a 14-1 beatdown at the hands of James Madison on Tuesday.

The Terps fell behind 7-0 through six inning on the road Wednesday against George Mason and eventually lost 9-5. Taylor Wright, AJ Lee and Michael Pineiro all recorded multi-hit games, but it was too little too late as Maryland has now dropped three straight midweek games.

Ohio State Buckeyes (21-17, 4-5 Big Ten)

Last season

The Buckeyes were eliminated in the Big Ten semifinals in 2018 before losing both of their NCAA tournament games against South Carolina and UNC-Wilmington. Ohio State was one of the four Big Ten representatives in the national tournament and headed to the tournament for the second time in the last three years.

This season

Ohio State is hovering just above the .500 mark after wining five of its last six games. A four and five-game losing streak stunted the Buckeyes momentum, but after a big series win against Michigan, they’re playing well headed into this weekend, despite sitting in 10th place of 13 teams in the Big Ten standings.

Hitters to watch

Only two Buckeyes have started in all 38 games this season, and they’re both the team’s best hitters. Junior outfielder Dominic Canzone ranks second in the Big Ten with a .368 batting average and leads the conference in hits and runs. Senior utility man Brady Cherry trails on Canzone in hits in the conference and is tied for fourth with 33 runs batted in.

Pitchers to watch

Junior left-hander Andrew Magno and freshman righty Bayden Root have combined for 31 appearances out of the bullpen this season. Magno leads the team with five saves, holding opponents to a .235 batting average while maintaining a 3.57 ERA. Root has struck out 37 hitters in only 25.1 innings while holding competition to a slim .217 batting average.

Probable Starting Pitching Matchup 

Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET

Sr. RHP Hunter Parsons ( 6-2, 2.95 ERA) v. Fr. RHP Garrett Burhenn (5-1, 3.16 ERA)

   vs.

Parsons finally had another subpar start after three incredible outings, yet Maryland still walked away with a win last weekend against Northwestern. The righty conceded seven runs over seven innings while striking out seven. The seven runs and hits he conceded were both the most he’s allowed all season.

The freshman has been dominant this season for the Buckeyes, but he’ll face a veteran counterpart in Hunter Parsons. Burhenn doesn’t hand out too many free passes; he’s walked just 19 hitters in 57 innings and has only hit two batters. He’s also only conceded two home runs thus far.

Probable Starting Pitching Matchup 

Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET

Jr. RHP Zach Thompson (1-4, 5.29 ERA) v. R-Fr. LHP Seth Lonsway (5-3, 3.88 ERA)

   vs.

After conceding five runs last weekend against Northwestern, Thompson has now conceded more than three runs in each of his last three starts. Even when Thompson has fared well, Maryland hasn’t. The Terps have only won one of the nine games Thompson has started in, the last coming on Feb. 22 against Maine.

Also in his first season pitching for the Buckeyes, Lonsway has held opposing hitters to a slim .215 batting average in nine starts this season. He’s struck out 61 hitters in only 51 innings, but he’s also handed out 30 walks. He was the Big Ten pitcher of the week earlier this month.

Probable Starting Pitching Matchup 

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET

Fr. RHP Trevor LaBonte (1-3, 5.85 ERA) v. So. LHP Griffan Smith (3-2, 4.25 ERA)

  vs.

LaBonte got off to a very hot start to his college career, but has now given up 18 earned runs over his last three starts. He conceded eight runs on seven hits in five innings against Northwestern last weekend, but Maryland’s offense provided enough run support to hand LaBonte a no-decision.

Technically the “veteran” of the Buckeyes weekend rotation, Smith is the only one of the three with an ERA north of 4.00. He won’t pitch as deep into ballgames as Lonsway or Burhenn, and has allowed just over one hit per inning this season.  Last year, Smith made 23 of his appearances as a reliever.