A pair of freshmen proved crucial for the Terps (16-5) on Tuesday, serving as the catalysts of a five-run eighth inning in a 9-5 victory over James Madison (13-8) at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium. 

Jordan Crosland hasn’t had many major moments in his freshman season. His lone home run and three RBIs all came in a loss to Charlotte on March 8. With runners on the corners and one out, the outfielder laid down a bunt that brought home Jacob Orr and gave the Terps a 5-4 lead. After a walk loaded the bases, Chris Hacopian hit a moonshot over the left field fence to extend the lead to five runs. 

“It’s a testament to them and how special they are and where their mental game is, and all the other intangibles” head coach Matt Swope said after the game.

Outside of their offensive explosion in the eighth inning, the entirety of the Terps offensive production came in the second. 

Already trailing 3-0, an Orr walk, and an error off a Brayden Martin bunt single, gave the Terps runners on second and third with nobody out. A walk from Crosland loaded the bases with one out. 

A risky decision to tag on a shallow fly ball from Elijah Lambros paid dividends for Orr, as he scored the first run of the inning. Then, the Hacopian brothers took over. An RBI single from Chris Hacopian made the score 3-2. The following batter, Eddie Hacopian, pushed the ball down the right field line, scoring the runner from second. A fielding error from James Madison right fielder Brendan O’Donnell allowed Chris Hacopian to score from first, giving Maryland its first lead of the game. 

Chris Hacopian went 3-for-3 with a walk and five RBIs, scoring two runs as well. He has scored a run in four consecutive games. 

“I was pretty sped up in the beginning of the season. The first 10, 12 games, I wasn’t doing the things I should be doing offensively,” Chris Hacopian said. “Now I’m getting a little more comfortable, a little more under my shoes.”

Omar Melendez earned the victory, his second of the season. Melendez entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched 3 ⅓ innings, striking out four batters and allowing one run. Melendez was replaced by Logan Berrier with one out in the top of the ninth, two batters after giving up a solo home run.

“He’s unflappable,” Swope said of Melendez. “What a great teammate, great personality, he’s hysterically funny and when his numbers called, he just comes in and he’s super consistent.”

Despite allowing the bases to fill, Berrier got the final two outs to secure the victory.

Ryan Van Buren got the start for the Terps, opening the game by allowing a pair of solo home runs in the first inning. After allowing another run in the second, the junior only allowed one more James Madison runner to cross home plate in the last three innings.

Van Buren threw 72 pitches over five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out four batters. 

The win marks a major resume builder for the Terps, as James Madison entered the game ninth in the RPI, a crucial metric when the committee makes its decisions on who to include in the NCAA Tournament. 

“Obviously it’s a big RPI game. … They’ve played a really tough schedule, they’re actually a really, really good team,” said Swope.

Maryland starts its Big Ten slate on Friday with a three-game home series against Michigan State. Friday’s opening game starts at 6 p.m. and can be streamed on Big Ten-plus.