After inclement weather postponed the Terps’ originally scheduled series opener, they were faced with an early-morning matchup against Illinois on Saturday.

Maryland struggled to find a lead throughout the game after falling into an early first-inning hole. With bases-loaded chances in both the fourth and seventh innings, the Terps couldn’t come up with the breakthrough hit.

Those missed opportunities ultimately haunted Maryland. The Fighting Illini put the game out of reach in the eighth inning, sinking the Terps to a 7-4 loss at Illinois Field.

Maryland (14-16, 3-7 Big Ten) found themselves in an early deficit after Illinois put quick pressure on starter Kyle McCoy. 

After Illinois’ (16-11, 5-5 Big Ten) first two batters reached base, a wild pitch and ensuing a passed ball allowed the Fighting Illini to strike first. An RBI double later in the inning gave Illinois a 2-0 lead after one.

McCoy quickly bounced back in the second inning though, striking out the side in order.

The Terps’ offense managed its first significant threat of the day in the top of the fourth. 

An RBI single by outfielder Elijah Lambros scored Maryland’s first run of the day. Sophomore Brayden Martin then knocked a single to load the bases with just one out.

But, in the advantageous scoring situation, Eddie Hacopian hit into a double play. It erased Maryland’s chance of tying the game at the time as the Terps had to settle for just one. 

McCoy’s early command struggles seemingly returned in the bottom of the fifth.  

He walked Cameron Chee-Aloy to lead off the inning. The Illinois right fielder then moved up to second after a wild pitch, before Greg LaChance brought him home on a single to center. Lambros’ throw to home on LaChance’s base hit led to a questionable safe call at home; an official review confirmed the ruling though, as Illinois added to its lead.

Infielder Jack Zebig singled in the following at-bat and took an extra 90 feet thanks to a throwing error by Eddie Hacopian. That misfire also allowed another Illinois run to cross.

After failing to record an out in the frame, McCoy’s day was over after pitching 4+ innings. He exited with five strikeouts and gave up the same number of hits. Only three of the four runs that McCoy gave up were earned.

Maryland Head Coach Matt Swope then turned to left-hander Andrew Johnson. He retired the next three batters in order — while striking out one — to help the Terps get out of the fifth. 

Returning for the bottom of the sixth though, Johnson found himself in trouble. The Maryland reliever loaded the bases by giving up back-to-back singles and a walk. Johnson then lost a 12-pitch battle to LaChance, walking in a run to make the score 5-1 in favor of Illinois.

With the bases still juiced, Johnson limited the damage to just one with a pair of strikeouts — significant mitigation since the Dirty Terps got back into the game in the top of the seventh. 

After an Alex Calarco single and a Chris Hacopian walk, Jacob Orr came up to bat with two outs. The senior outfielder sent a ball to the right-center gap. Illinois’ center fielder and right fielder both dove for the ball, but neither made the catch. Orr made it all the way to third as Chris Hacopian and Calarco both scored on the triple. 

Orr scampered home during the following at-bat after a passed ball went in and out of the catcher’s glove. The Terps had cut their deficit to 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh but they failed to keep the deficit at one. 

Illinois once again stretched its lead in the eighth inning. Reliever Jack Wren gave up a double and a walk to start the inning, and a few batters later, infielder Kyle Schupmann ripped a two-RBI double that pushed Illinois’ lead to 7-4.

Down to their final chance, the Terps went quiet. Illinois left-handed pitcher Zach Bates set them down in order in the ninth, closing out game one of the series.

With inclement weather still in the Champaign, IL forecast for much of Saturday afternoon, it’s still not clear when the second game will be played. There’s a chance that the two teams meet again later today, or they may try to squeeze in a doubleheader on Sunday in an effort to make up Friday’s rainout.

No matter how the schedule shapes up, Oliver Schaack will be on the call for MBN.