Deadlocked at three runs apiece after six innings, Maryland needed an offensive boost in Friday’s series opener against Western Carolina. The Terps got exactly what they were looking for when Alex Calarco, their best bat so far this season, stepped into the box with the bases loaded. 

Already 3-for-3 on the day, Calarco turned on the second pitch of the at-bat, launching a no-doubt grand slam over the left field wall to give the Terps a 7-3 lead in the seventh inning. Calarco’s blast would almost certainly be the difference — or so it seemed.   

The unfazed Catamounts tagged Maryland’s bullpen for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, flipping a four-run deficit into a one-run lead. Western Carolina held onto that same advantage for the final two innings, taking down Maryland 8-7 at Hennon Stadium. 

Calarco matched his home run tally from last season with the seventh-inning grand slam. He finished with five RBIs, but the rest of Maryland’s (2-2) order combined for just two. 

The Dirty Terps’ offense wasted no time getting rolling in Cullowhee.

With one out in the opening inning, Catamount starter Dusty Revis drilled Eddie Hacapoian with a fastball, giving Maryland its first base runner. Eddie’s brother Chris then sent him to second on a groundout before Hollis Porter opened the scoring with an RBI double down the left-field line.

Calarco stayed scorching hot right after. After belting three home runs last weekend, Maryland’s catcher lined a single to right, which sent Porter home and gave the Terps an early 2-0 lead.

But Western Carolina (2-3) didn’t take long to respond.

Juniors Hayden Friese and Brayden Corn picked up back-to-back infield singles. A fielder’s choice then put runners on the corners for the Catamounts. With two outs in the bottom of the frame, shortstop Trent Turner blasted Kyle McCoy’s first offering over the left field wall to give Western Carolina a 3-2 lead.

McCoy gave up four hits Friday’s opening frame after allowing just three in his four innings of work last weekend. 

Both starters settled in after the first-inning offensive outbursts. 

Revis and McCoy each posted 1-2-3 second innings. Revis faced the minimum again in the top of the third, but McCoy found himself in another jam.

After inducing two quick groundouts, McCoy walked Cole Jones before Trent Turner reached on a throwing error. The wild throw put a pair of Western Carolina runners in scoring position, but McCoy chose the perfect time for his first strikeout of the day. He got Trey Spees to swing at a breaking ball in the dirt as the redshirt junior escaped the defense-induced jam.

Revis worked out of his own jam right after in the following frame.

Calarco earned his second hit of the day, driving a double down the line in left. The senior advanced to third on a productive out from Aden Hill, giving the Terps a runner on third with two outs. Then Revis’ defense bailed him out. 

Two-way player Mason Holton, playing third base on Friday afternoon, dove over the wall in foul territory to steal an at-bat from Liam Willson and maintain Western Carolina’s lead.

Revis’ luck ran out in the fifth though.

Elijah Lambros led off the inning with a single. Jordan Crosland followed up with a walk to put runners on first and second for Brayden Martin. The sophomore perfectly laid down a sacrifice bunt — so flawless that Revis overthrew his first baseman, loading the bags for Maryland.

Eddie Hacopian lined out, but Chris Hacopian made no mistakes after him. The younger Hacopian lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Lambros and tie the game; that ended Revis’ outing. 

Western Carolina’s starter gave up three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work.

Maryland kept up the pressure against the Catamounts’ bullpen in the sixth.

Freshman reliever Jacob Arnberger finished out the fifth inning and stayed in for the sixth. Calarco, Hill, and Crossland all reached base, giving Martin a two-out, bases-loaded opportunity.

But, Arnberger collected himself. He got Martin to fly out, ending the inning. 

Kyle McCoy escaped another jam in the sixth. The Catamounts got runners on second and third with two outs, but head coach Matt Swope stuck with his ace and McCoy delivered. He forced Wyatt Stanley into a groundout, ending a stressful inning for the Terps that was also McCoy’s last.

The stat sheet didn’t do Maryland’s starter justice. McCoy tossed multiple 1-2-3 innings and was in control of the Catamounts’ hitter for the majority of his outing.

McCoy’s effort was rewarded the next inning, when Alex Calarco gave Maryland a 7-3 lead with his second grand slam in as many weekends.

But the Catamounts didn’t go away without a fight.

Western Carolina roughed up reliever Andrew Koshy in his Maryland debut. He only managed to get through one-third of an inning, giving up two runs on a moon shot home run from Hayden Friese, which Maryland’s lead in half.

The Catamounts continued feasting against Maryland relievers. 

Ryan van Buren tried to finish the frame but he ultimately surrendered three hits. An RBI single for Trent Turner brought the Catamounts within one before Jack Spyke tied the game on a fielder’s choice. 

Stanley polished off a disastrous half-inning for the Terps with a lead-taking, ground-rule double. Andrew Johnson came in to get the final out of the inning, as the Catamounts carried their 8-7 lead into the latter stages.

Maryland put together a last-gasp effort in the ninth. Chris Hacopian led off with a single and Hill was hit by a pitch with two outs. But Griffin Guinther secured the save for Western Carolina, drawing a pop-out from Jacob Orr to finish off an improbable comeback.

The Terps will look to even the series with the Catamounts on Saturday. The first pitch of game two is scheduled for 2 p.m.