Already with an RBI single in his back pocket and a 4-2 Maryland lead, freshman Parker Corbin stepped into the box with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the third against Mount St. Mary’s. The second baseman drew a run-scoring walk — a common theme for Maryland.

It was a day full of small-ball for the Dirty Terps’ offense in their return to “The Bob” on Wednesday. Despite scoring nine runs, Maryland accumulated just two extra-base hits in contrast to 23 combined singles, walks, and hit batters.

The Terps have now gone three straight games without a home run after averaging over two per game through their first 14 contests. Nevertheless, it was a necessary bounce-back win for Maryland, who beat Mount St. Mary’s 9-3 after Tuesday’s heartbreaking loss to No. 23 Virginia.

Both teams featured freshmen making their first career starts, and each one experienced first-inning struggles. 

The top of the first inning would be the only inning for Maryland (9-8) starter Ryan Bailey. The right-hander surrendered two runs on two hits, and an additional pair of walks. But the freshman got some help from catcher Alex Calarco, who wiped out a potential third run for the Mountaineers. 

Ryan Brown didn’t fare much better on the mound for Mount St. Mary’s (7-8) in the bottom half of the inning.

He walked and hit his first two batters. Like Maryland, though, the Mountaineers’ defense played damage control for their starter and limited the Terps to one run — an RBI groundout from Calarco.

Unlike the Terps, the Mountaineers gave Brown another inning. He only recorded one out in the frame.

Maryland tallied four hits for three runs against Brown in the second, making his final stat line four runs on four hits with a walk and a hit batter in 1.1 innings.

The Mount’s bullpen was only marginally more effective. Andrew Cheripka and Kaden Kimbel combined to pitch the next 3.2 innings. Together, the pair surrendered four more runs on six hits. They also walked five Terps while striking out just one. 

Corbin — making just his second career start — benefited the most from Maryland’s small-ball strategy. The Terps’ second baseman went two for three with two walks and two RBI — the only Maryland player with multiple runs driven in on Wednesday.

“As a freshman batting down low in the order, I think I’m gonna see a lot of fastballs,” Corbin said. “It’s a pretty simple game when you think of it … just slow the game down, just trust what I’ve been doing.”

Maryland’s bullpen locked down the Mountaineers after Bailey surrendered two runs in the first.

Andrew Koshy, Devin Milberg, Jack Wren and, Joey McMannis gave up just one run on three hits while striking out seven batters over the final eight innings.

Despite putting McMannis in for the ninth, coach Matt Swope said he’ll probably still get a start against USF this weekend.

The Terps have a travel day on Thursday before heading south to Tampa, where they’ll face the Bulls in a weekend series that starts on Friday. Nathan Schwartz will be on the call for MBN, and first pitch for game one is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.