Maryland baseball entered Sunday’s series finale looking to salvage the rubber match of the three-game set against the Purdue Boilermakers and pick up their first conference win of the year.

The Terps entered the bottom of the eighth down one after the Boilermakers broke the tie in the top of the frame. Things didn’t look good for Maryland as it was 1-6 when trailing after seven innings in its 20 games played this season..

However, as they had throughout the entire game, the Terps continued to show their resilience. After redshirt freshman Ryan Costello tied the game at nine a piece on a fielder’s choice the Terps came down to their final out of the inning with Costello on third. With two outs, freshman shortstop Ty Kaunas would narrowly leg out an infield single to give the Terps the lead once again.

The late go-head single would be enough for Maryland (11-8, 1-2 B1G) to avoid the series sweep and defeat Purdue(12-6, 4-2 B1G) 10-9.

The Boilermakers got off to a fast start, thanks to a two-run homer from graduate first baseman CJ Richmond in the first. They added on in the second with a homer from junior infielder Dylan Drake.

And in the fourth inning, the Terps fell further into the hole.

Purdue started the inning with three straight singles, the latter of which came from senior outfielder Eli Anderson who drove a run home. A following sacrifice bunt from senior outfielder Brandon Rogers plated another run to stretch Purdue’s lead to 5-0.

The Terps had multiple opportunities to score in the early innings but failed to do so. After a two-out double from sophomore Paul Jones II in the second and a one-out walk to redshirt sophomore outfielder Jordan Crossland, both were unable to cross the plate.

Sophomore right-hander Jake Yeager made the start for the Terps, going four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and only striking out one batter.

Righty Ryan Bailey came out of the bullpen in relief to begin the fifth. The sophomore allowed no hits and only one walk to go with four strikeouts through 2.2 innings pitched.

After a 5-4-3 double play in the top of the fifth, the Terps were able to capitalize thanks to a two-run homer from Crossland, newly moved to the leadoff spot. 

A two-out walk to Costello knocked Purdue starting left-handed pitcher Jarvis Evans out of the game, but the Terps were unable to score any additional runs. Evans finished allowing four hits and two runs in 4.2 innings pitched.

However, in the sixth inning, the Terps found new life.

An RBI single from the freshman outfielder Nate Hawton-Henley cut the deficit to one on a two-RBI single, and a fielding error from Purdue shortstop Westin Boyle allowed the Terps to tie the game.

Purdue went to left-handed reliever Trevor Kester-Johnson to try to get out of the inning, but junior Brayden Martin hit an RBI single to give the Terps the lead. A line-drive double play cut the scoring short, but the Terps were now playing from in front for the first time.

In the top of the seventh, however, Purdue right fielder Ali Banks wasted no time tying the game with a solo shot to left.

After two wild pitches allowed Aaron Manias to advance to third, Bailey was able to strike out Sam Flores and CJ Richmond before his day came to an end.

Sophomore righty Cristofer Cespedes was called upon to get out of the inning, however, after a hit batter and a walk, Jackson Bessette gave the Boilermakers the lead right back on a 2 run single to left-center.

The Terps yet again immediately gave themselves an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. 

After Jones II delivered with an RBI double to cut the deficit to one, head coach Matt Swope decided to make a move to the bench, replacing freshman Bud Coombs with sophomore Michael Iannazzo. That move paid off, as Iannazzo drove in Ty Kaunas on a sacrifice fly.

Once again though, the Boilermakers answered back, this time with a solo homer from the nine hitter Rogers. The Terps called upon sophomore right-handed pitcher Logan Hastings to get out of the inning. He was able to stop the bleeding thanks to a line-drive double play right to the first baseman Jones II.

Costello was able to re-tie the game on an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eighth and Kaunas was able to give the Terps the lead after legging out an infield single.

As he has done all year, Hastings continued his dominance on the mound and shut the door on Boilermakers in the 9th inning to pick up his second win of the year.

The Terps now shift their a midweek contest on Tuesday against the Richmond Spiders before heading out to southern California for a weekend series against the #1 ranked UCLA Bruins.

First pitch for Tuesday’s game is set for 4:00 PM from Richmond. Tune into MBN’s broadcast with Daniel Stein on the call.