Chris Hacopian stepped into the right-handed batter’s box with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth inning. With his team trailing 7-4 to Western Carolina, the sophomore launched a two-strike breaking ball over the left-center-field fence, salvaging both the game and the series for Maryland — for the time being at least. 

The Catamounts and Terps each traded runs in the bottom of the ninth and top of the tenth respectively. In a two-on, two-out situation in the bottom of the 10th, Maryland reliever Andrew Koshy fired a two-strike offering to Elijah Smith. The Catamount outfielder turned it around in emphatic fashion.    

Smith launched a home run to dead center field, sealing a wild walk-off loss for Maryland. The 11-9 defeat at Hennon Stadium marked a brutal end to a series in which the Terps outscored Western Carolina by 20.  

It was Maryland’s first time losing a true weekend series to a non-power conference opponent since the Terps dropped two of three to Dallas Baptist in March of 2022.  

Senior Alex Calarco — the nation’s leader in RBIs entering Sunday — drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first inning, allowing leadoff hitter Brayden Martin to score the first run of the game. But despite having the bags full with nobody out, the Terps weren’t able to get another run. 

Conversely, Western Carolina (3-4) scored twice in the bottom of the first and then added another run on a Mason Holton sacrifice fly in the following frame. 

The brotherly combo of Eddie and Chris Hacopian helped level the score at three in the top of the third. Eddie Hacopian reached base via hit-by-a-pitch to lead off the inning. Standing right behind him in the order was Chris Hacopian, who tied the game by homering to left.  

Omar Melendez delivered clean third and fourth innings in his Sunday spot-start, ultimately finishing with three runs (two earned) on five hits, four strikeouts, and 70 total pitches.

Head coach Matt Swope made his first pitching change in the fifth. He turned to freshman Logan Hastings, who was making his second appearance of the year. 

The Catamounts bats dominated the fifth inning though. They tagged Maryland’s freshman relievers for three runs, although just one of those was earned. Hastings allowed a run to score on a crucial throwing error before Wyatt Stanley laced an RBI single to right field one at-bat later. 

A second pitching change was made during the fifth inning, with senior Andrew Johnson relieving Hastings. The lefty ended Western Carolina’s high in the inning, but plenty of damage had already been done.

Maryland’s offense finally found a response in the seventh. 

The Terps had not gotten just one hit since the third inning, but Jacob Orr broke that trend when he was rewarded with a double on a hard-hit ball to right field. 

Orr then swiped third before Brayden Martin struck out. However, the sophomore’s K was a dropped third strike, allowing Orr to reach home as Martin’s was thrown out at first. The Maryland second baseman also came up limping after trying to leg out the play at first. 

Martin would return to the field but was soon taken out — presumably due to the injury.  

Nevertheless, Orr’s run left Maryland trailing by two as the game moved into its late innings. 

A third pitching change was made by Maryland to begin the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Bailey was brought in to make his first collegiate appearance. He had mixed success, giving up a run but also recording his first career strikeout in the seventh inning. 

Bailey delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning, sending the contest into the ninth inning with the Terps down by three. 

Western Carolina’s Griffin Guinther quickly recorded the first two outs but the Terps battled with their backs against the wall. 

Orr, Parker Corbin, and Eddie Hacopian all reached base with two outs. That set the stage for a tense matchup between Guinther and Chris Hacopian. The latter prevailed in grand fashion, giving Maryland its first lead since the opening inning.  

Two straight hits in the bottom of the ninth inning quickly knocked Bailey out of the game for Koshy. 

With runners on second and third with nobody out, Koshy impressively induced two groundouts without allowing either Catamount to advance. But after a two-out intentional walk, Koshy hit Brayden Corn with a pitch, forcing the tying run across in the form of Jack Spyke.  

Western Carolina freshman reliever Carter Burnette couldn’t stop the Terps from retaking the lead in the top of the tenth. Calarco led off the inning with a base hit. He moved to third on a walk and a sacrifice, before scampering home on a wild pitch. 

Maryland had an opportunity to add to its scoring total in the 10th, but Smith cut down Michael Iannazzo at home for a 9-2, inning-ending double play.  

After his defensive heroics in the top half of the inning, Smith ended the game with his three-run blast to straightaway center field. It was the sophomore’s first career home run.

Maryland returns to College Park this Tuesday for its home opener. The Terps face Delaware at 4 p.m., with freshman Jake Yeager expected to make his first start.