With a big weekend on deck, Maryland baseball looks to keep its winning streak alive. Coming off a huge series sweep, the Terps have the chance to continue their offensive energy that began at The Bob last weekend.

The Terps dominated the Ohio State Buckeyes at home winning all three games to move their record above .500 for the first time this season. Hoping to continue their momentum, the Terps will be traveling to Iowa City, IA, for a four-game pod with a pair of matchups against both the 15-10 Iowa Hawkeyes and 12-12 Northwestern Wildcats.

The first games of the weekend will be up against the Hawkeyes, game one will start on Friday at 8:05 p.m., and game two will start on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. For game three, the Terps will finish out the double-header on Saturday against the Wildcats at 6:05 p.m. To wrap the series, the Terps will face the Wildcats again on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

The Terps’ important series sweep last weekend against Ohio State helped them climb to 13-12 and a tie for fifth in the Big Ten standings. With a collective 24 runs across the weekend, Maryland dominated game one scoring seven runs in the sixth en route to a 10-6 win. In game two, the Terps captured a 5-4 win in ten innings thanks to a bases-loaded walk. For the final matchup, Maryland came from behind to secure the 9-4 victory, as the Terp pitching staff held the Buckeyes scoreless after the third. 

Maryland will look to offensive players Chris Alleyne, Maxwell Costes, and Matt Shaw to continue strong performances this coming series. Alleyne hit .400 on the weekend and stole seven bases. Costes and Shaw each had hits in all three games.

The Hawkeyes are coming off a 3-1 series win in Piscataway, NJ against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Iowa racked up 32 runs in the four games with Izaya Fullard recording seven hits in the series. Maryland’s offensive energy will need to stay strong to combat Iowa’s high run-scoring this season (6.0 runs per game). 

In the second half of the weekend pod, the Terps will take on the Wildcats, a team coming off a 1-2 series loss against the Indiana Hoosiers. In the first loss, Northwestern rallied in the seventh but fell short, 5-4. In the second loss, Indiana kept the Wildcats scoreless, beating them, 4-0. Overall, the Wildcats have lost four of their last five games. Maryland will look to capitalize on Northwestern’s recent struggles.

Iowa Hawkeyes (15-10)

Last Season

The Iowa Hawkeyes finished the shortened season due to the COVID shutdown with a 10-5 record. The team slashed .295/.391/.408 and their pitching staff closed with a solid 3.39 ERA. 

This Season

The Hawkeyes have stayed consistent with their shortened 2020 season. Iowa has boasted a .251/.371/.418 slash line so far, and are fourth in the Big Ten standings. The Hawkeyes pitching staff has shown strength putting up a 4.06 ERA. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 3-1 series win and have won eight out of their last ten games.

Hitters to Watch

The Hawkeyes have plenty of hitters to keep an eye on. Redshirt Senior Ben Norman is in the midst of a breakout season recording 29 hits, nine home runs, 30 RBI, and claiming Big Ten Player of the Week on April 20. Norman has scored in 17 out of his last 21 games to top off his success. Redshirt Freshman Peyton Williams has also recorded big stats so far this season with a .282/.452/.620 slash line with seven doubles and five homers. Redshirt Junior Izaya Fullard came out big last weekend with seven hits, his highest for a series this season. 

Pitchers to Watch

The Hawkeyes pitching staff has held its own this season, with Trenton Wallace and Cam Baumann, both Redshirt Juniors, throwing a total of 81 strikeouts this season. Baumann has topped the Hawkeyes pitching staff putting up a 2.62 ERA with a 3-2 record and holding opposing batters to a .184 batting average. Wallace posts a 2.87 ERA with a 3-1 record. Drew Irvine, a Redshirt Sophomore, also shows promise with 33 strikeouts this season.

Northwestern Wildcats (12-12)

Last Season

In the 2020 season, the Wildcats fell just short of a .500 season, finishing 6-7. The team hit for a .239/.327/.340 slash line along with a bullpen boasting a 3.63 ERA.

This Season

Despite their even record, Northwestern has put up a .271/.356/.496 slash line so far this season. The Wildcat pitching staff has room for improvement with a 4.80 ERA. Northwestern will be looking to change things around after coming off a 1-2 series loss and losing seven out of their last ten games. 

Hitters to Watch

The Wildcats have a good balance of power and average this season, with four hitters averaging .300 and above. Juniors Anthony Calarco and Shawn Goosenberg lead the pack combining for a total of 70 hits, 17 home runs, 19 doubles, and 39 RBIs. Calarco tops Northwestern’s stats with a .360/.443/.680 slash line; Goosenberg follows suit with a .327/.391/.692. In the Cats last showing, Vincent Bianchina smacked back-to-back home runs to  also put him in the spotlight.

Pitchers to Watch

Northwestern’s bullpen has struggled this season, but pitchers Mike Doherty, Sam Lawrence, and Reed Smith have made notable appearances this season. Friday starter Junior Doherty has a 2.98 ERA this season along with 23 strikeouts. Smith boasts a 2.87 ERA with a win and two losses. Graduate student Sam Lawrence captured his first win last weekend in game two against Indiana, allowing just one hit in closing the game. He also has a team-high three saves.

Starting Pitching Matchups

Game 1: RHP Sean Burke (4-3, 4.50 ERA)  vs. LHP Trenton Wallace (3-1, 2.87 ERA)

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Most recently coming off a pitching win against Ohio State, Redshirt Sophomore Sean Burke will look to continue his personal record above .500. Burke has thrown 62 strikeouts so far this season posting a respectable 4.50 ERA.

Iowa will bring in a strong arm in Trenton Wallace for the opener of the series. Wallace boasts a 2.87 ERA for the season with a total 52 strikeouts thus far. Maryland will have to bring their A-game to plate.

Game 2: RHP Nick Dean (3-1, 4.43 ERA)  vs. RHP Drew Irvine (2-2, 4.00 ERA)

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With three straight pitching wins against Northwestern, Nebraska, and Ohio State, sophomore Nick Dean will look to carry that momentum into game two. Dean has thrown 17 strikeouts this season, and in his last showing against the Buckeyes he struck out eight batters, his high for the season.

Coming off two pitching wins, Drew Irvine will be looking to keep his streak alive. At a respectable 4.00 ERA, Irvine has pitched a total of 33 strikeout so far this season and will be a difficult opponent for the Maryland team to face.

Game 3: TBD vs. RHP Mike Doherty (1-1, 2.98 ERA)

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TBD

One of the top arms in Northwestern’s pitching staff, Junior Mike Doherty will open the second half of the weekend. With a tremendous 2.98 ERA and 23 strikeouts, Doherty will look to continue his strong stats this season.

Game 4: RHP Jason Savacool (6-1, 5.12 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Uberstine (2-2, 5.03 ERA)

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The freshman star, Jason Savacool will finish up the series for the Terps on Sunday. Savacool has held his own this year securing six wins for the team. He has pitched 24 strikeouts this season and in his last showing against the Buckeyes threw a career-high six strikeouts in six innings.

To finish up the pod series, the Wildcats will start Tyler Uberstine. Uberstine has 34 strikeouts this season at 34 innings pitched and after allowing four runs in his last outing against Indiana, he will be looking to shut down the Terps at the plate.