Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Hollis Porter stepped up to the plate to try and get the offense going for the Dirty Terps. 

His high fly ball appeared to be going right over the wall, which would’ve broken the ice for Maryland and shifted the momentum back towards the Terps. But Nebraska centerfielder Robby Bolin made a perfectly timed jump and snagged the ball before it fully went over.

Near misses like that underscored Maryland’s 7-2 loss to Nebraska on Saturday in College Park.

“A level of focus from every single person, whether they’re in the lineup or they’re not, has to raise tomorrow,” head coach Matt Swope said.

Joey McMannis got off to a positive start for the Terps (21-24, 6-14 Big Ten) in the top of the first inning. He allowed two Cornhuskers (20-23, 8-12 Big Ten) to walk to first after hitting them, but still held Nebraska to no runs and no hits. 

Jacob Orr ended up being the only Terp to get a hit in the bottom of the first. Maryland’s hitters had a slow start that would result in a number of scoreless innings to follow. 

McMannis couldn’t keep the Cornhuskers off the scoreboard for long as Nebraska’s Hogan Helligso produced the first action of the game in the top of the second. 

He singled to center field and Case Sanderson scored to put the first run of the game on the board. 

Things were beginning to look familiar to Friday’s game with Nebraska taking the first lead. But unlike the previous day’s matchup, Maryland wasn’t able to respond with a run to tie up the game. 

The Terps blew a golden opportunity to score that game-tying first run of the day in the bottom of the third. 

The ball got away from Nebraska first baseman Tyler Stone on a pick-off attempt. Brayden Martin, who was standing on first, turned on the engines after the arrant throw, running all the way from first to third. Following that error, Eddie and Chris Hacopian both walked, loading up the bases for Alex Calarco.

Unfortunately for Maryland, he grounded out to first base, leaving the Terps with another scoreless inning.

After taking a run break in the third, Nebraska began hitting once again. Sanderson drove in a run with a double to right field, giving the Cornhuskers a 2-0 lead in the fourth.

Nebraska used the fifth inning to grab a real lead in the game. 

The Cornhuskers scored three more runs, forcing Maryland to make its first pitching change of the day. McMannis, who allowed five runs during his start, got pulled in favor of reliever Cristofer Cespedes before the inning was over. The 4.2 innings were a season high for McMannis.

After some uneventful innings for both offenses, the Terps trailed 5-0 entering the bottom of the seventh.

Maryland made its first mark on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Hacopian stepped up to bat with the bases loaded, and his bunt was just enough for Martin to run home from third. 

Nebraska responded with another run in the eighth to regain its five-run advantage.

Porter, after being robbed of his homer in the fourth, launched a long ball to right field in the bottom of the eighth to make it 6-2 entering the ninth.

Nebraska scored the last run of the game on a Sanderson solo shot to center field.

With two outs, Eddie Hacopian was Maryland’s last hope in making a late comeback, but he flew out to right to end the game.

“Whether it’s a coach, or the players, the guys that are on the bench, we all collectively have to do it and be able to come back and push through and get a series win tomorrow,” said Swope. 

The first pitch in this crucial conference rubber match is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday with Ben Strober and Jack Bowman on the call for MBN.