Prior to Tuesday, Maryland and George Mason’s most recent matchup was in the 2023 Winston-Salem Regional. An 11-10 walkoff lifted the Patriots over the Terps in a loss that ended Maryland’s season. 

But Tuesday’s matchup at “The Bob” featured a much different outcome.

Maryland — fueled by an eighth-inning onslaught — came from six runs down to defeat the Patriots 15-8 in a midweek thriller; it’s a win that, to an extent, avenges the Terps’ regional loss from two seasons ago. 

“It kinda just all went in our favor at the end and we kept going,” Eddie Hacopian said. “We were relentless.”

George Mason’s bats wasted no time. The aggressive Patriots forced a pitching change before the top of the first inning was over. 

Starting pitcher Brayden Ryan struggled in his first start of the season, surrendering five base runners and allowing a pair of runs, while recording just two outs — one on a caught-stealing and the other on a pickoff.   

Sophomore Andrew Koshy took over for Ryan, allowing two more runs to cross before he eventually escaped the nightmarish first half inning. 

The Terps had a chance to produce an immediate response. 

Chris Hacopian and Alex Calarco earned back-to-back walks but Jacob Orr struck out, ending Maryland’s offensive threat in the frame. 

Then, George Mason’s James Quinn added on in the second by sending a two-run homer off the Varsity Team House beyond the left field fence. Quinn’s blast gave the Patriots a 6-0 lead after just an inning and a half. 

Needing an offensive spark to pull themselves off the deck, the Terps turned to first baseman Hollis Porter. 

Patriot’s starting pitcher Jake Drumm delivered a 1-1 offering, which Porter perfectly squared up for a solo home run to right center. Porter’s ninth long ball of the season seemingly kick-started Maryland’s offense.

Junior outfielder Aden Hill came across to score on an RBI groundout later in the inning. 

Brayden Martin followed that up with an RBI double before Eddie Hacopian dropped a perfect bunt that pushed Martin to third base. Chris Hacopian finished the inning off by lofting a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Martin home for Maryland’s fourth run of the afternoon. 

A third pitching change was made on Maryland’s side ahead of the third inning. Devin Milberg came in for Koshy after he allowed four of the Patriots’ six runs at the time. All but one of those four runs were charged to the Wake Forest transfer too.  

Head coach Matt Swope’s decision to go to the pen was exactly what Maryland needed to stay in the game.

Milberg silenced George Mason, making the third frame the Patriots’ first without any runs across. 

The Terps squeaked out their fifth run in the bottom of the third — making it five unanswered for Maryland — as Jacob Orr scored on an Elijah Lambros bunt.

Milberg silenced the Patriots in the fourth but George Mason broke through in the ensuing inning, plating one on an RBI single. Maryland’s offense temporarily stagnated at this point too, going runless in the fourth and fifth.  

Both sides went quiet in the sixth, though Maryland had a scoring opportunity. 

The Terps put runners on second and third with two away, but George Mason shortstop Owen Clyne made a slick play to retire Chris Hacopian and keep Maryland off the board.

Each team traded runs in the seventh, as George Mason maintained an 8-6 lead into the eighth inning. 

Andrew Johnson — who had taken over in the sixth inning — worked around a base hit in a scoreless eighth, giving Maryland’s offense a terrific chance to tie or take the lead. The Terps chose the latter. 

Martin pulled the Terps within one when he singled to left field, scoring freshman Colin Gibbs. 

Then, Eddie Hacopian singled to right field allowing Martin to score as Tuesday’s contest reached its first tie since both teams were scoreless. 

The Terps had completed the hard part by leveling the game at 8 runs apiece. But the relentless Terps remained on the offensive.

“Once we tied it up [we] got good position,” Swope said.

Calarco delivered Maryland its first lead of the day by smoking a double into right field, scoring both Hacopian brothers as the Terps took a 10-8 lead.

But it didn’t stop there. 

Maryland scored five more times in the inning for a total of nine runs — more than the electric George Mason offense could manage all game — by the time the eighth inning was over. The Patriots made multiple pitching changes, but none of their bullpen arms had an answer for the Terps’ rally.

Maryland stays home for its upcoming weekend set against Northwestern. The Terps are in desperate need of a Big Ten series win, after dropping their first two to UCLA and Washington. 

Jack Susanin and Jack Wynn will have the call of Friday’s game against the Wildcats for MBN. First pitch in that contest is set for 4 p.m.