Freshman Nic Morlang only threw ten pitches through the first two innings for his second start with the Dirty Terps. The right-handed pitcher faced eight batters and recorded one strikeout, one walk and one hit. 

Maryland (3-3) was defeated 9-1 by Louisiana (3-3) during game two of the three-game series at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park on Saturday afternoon.

The game began with David Mendez getting hit by a pitch and Brayden Martin lining out to shortstop. The second and third outs were recorded as Mendez was thrown out stealing second and Ty Kaunas grounded out to shortstop.

Colt Brown was the second Ragin’ Cajun to get on base with a double to right center– but the Dirty Terps’ defense ensured he was the last and ended the inning catching two fouls.

Things began to heat up in the third inning. 

Going into the bottom of the third, Martin lost his cap in shallow left field to catch a pop-up hit by Drew Markle to record the first out. Maddox Mandino bunted to third where Colin Gibbs scooped the ball up and threw it to Paul Jones II just in time for the second out. 

Kasen Bellard found his way onto base after a single to left field and advanced to second after Griffin Herbert was hit by a pitch. As Louisiana’s bats began heating up, Blaze Rodriguez hit a fielder’s choice to shortstop that was thrown to second baseman Mendez, getting Herbert out to end the inning.

But in the fourth inning, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ bats were on fire. 

Maryland began the inning well with Martin singling to left center on the 1-2 pitch– the first recorded hit for the Dirty Terps. He then stole second, putting himself in a scoring position. Ryan Costello then grounded out to second for the second out as Martin advanced to third. Rylan Stockton struck out swinging and attempted to take advantage of the dropped third strike but Mandino fired it to Lee Amedee for the third out but failed

Louisiana’s Steven Spalitta walked to begin the bottom of the fourth, just Morlang’s second walk of the afternoon. Brown fired his second double of the game down the left field line, putting both runners in scoring positions. Amedee singled up the middle on the first pitch, recording an RBI double, giving Louisiana the lead. Right after, Rigoberto Hernandez drove one over Jones II’s glove to advance Amedee to second– putting two runners on base once again.

Markle bunted to Morlang who didn’t make it in time as the bases were loaded. Mandino doubled to right field, bringing home Amedee and Hernandez– advancing Markle to third.

Junior Andrew Koshy relieved Morlang with runners on second and third and zero outs. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored one more run before the Dirty Terps ended the inning with a pop out to right field, a caught foul by Stockton and Koshy leaving the mound to catch a foul down the first base line. 

Louisiana’s Andrew Herrmann only faced four Maryland batters in the fifth inning, recording two strikeouts to keep up the momentum for Louisiana.

The Ragin’ Cajuns recorded another run in the bottom half of the fifth with Spalitta walking and moving to second on a wild pitch. He then advanced to third after Colt Brown grounded out to Koshy. Amedee singled to left field, recording his second RBI single of the game, making it a 6-0 lead for the Ragin’ Cajuns. 

Bases load as Markle is hit by a pitch causing Maryland to bring in freshman Case Gibbs to relieve Koshy for his second collegiate game to escape the bases loaded jam. He recorded his second career strikeout to Mandino swinging for the second out and with bases still loaded, Bellard grounded out to Mendez who tossed it to Kaunas for the final out.

Stockton put Maryland on the board in the top of the seventh with a home run over the left field wall, recording the Dirty Terps’ second hit to make it a 6-1 game. Jones II got onto base after being walked but didn’t go far after Hill and Morales struck out swinging and pinch hitter Michael Inannazzo popped out.

Steven Donigan relieved Gibbs to make his first collegiate appearance, then walked Amedee. Hernandez walked up to the plate and blasted one out of the stadium– extending Louisiana’s lead to 8-1.

Markle put himself in scoring position after a double down the right field line. Pinch hitter Jayce LaCava flew out to right field for the first out of the bottom half. With one out, redshirt junior James Gladden relieved Donigan and ended the inning with two fielder’s choice.

Mendez made his way onto base after a single to left field but Martin grounded into a double play– recording the first two outs. Kaunas made his way on base next after being walked on full count but got out at second after Costello reached on a fielder’s choice.

Three walks led to loaded bases in the bottom of the eighth with only one out. Junior Joseph Fredrick relieved Gladden which helped the Dirty Terps end the inning. Markle grounded to Jackson Sirios at third base who tagged the bag and launched it to Jones II at first to record a double play and final two outs. 

Maryland had a chance at redemption in the first half of the ninth. Stockton found his way onto base after a single to left field. Pinch runner Hawton Henle got out at second after a fielder’s choice hit by Jones II. Hill then struck out swinging but Sirois singled up the middle to get runners in scoring position at first and second. The third out came by Bud Coombs who flew out to right field, ending the inning and the game.

Ryan Martin will have the call for MBN tomorrow as the Terps look to avoid the sweep in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.