Early into the game, it seemed like Maryland had no business winning, but in the late innings, it found the opportunity of a comeback within reach.

After freshman shortstop Ty Kaunas walked to start the eighth inning, up to bat came redshirt freshman Ryan Costello. In a 1-2 count, Costello would blast a longball over the right-center field wall to bring Maryland within two. After another run scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, the Dirty Terps found themselves down by only one entering the ninth inning.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth, Costello entered the batter’s box again, hoping to display some more late-game heroics. This time though, he hit a fly ball that only traveled to short center field, which secured the No. 12 USC Trojans (25-2, 9-1) the 11-10 victory over the Terps (11-14, 1-6).

Maryland got off to a slippery start Friday night, both literally and figuratively. As the rain was lightly coming down, sophomore right-hander Lance Williams seemed to struggle with his command early, while the Terps’ defense made early mistakes. 

Williams walked the leadoff batter on five pitches and immediately hit the next batter to put the Trojans on first and third. With the ensuing batter seemingly hitting a double-play ball hit right to sophomore Jackson Sirois, he would get the force out at third but miss the throw to first, allowing USC to put two in scoring position. 

The Trojans scored their first two runs off an RBI groundout from junior Kevin Takeuchi and an RBI single from sophomore Augie Lopez. As the first inning struggles continued for Williams, so did USC’s scoring. The sophomore allowed another two to cross home on a wild pitch and walk before escaping the inning with the bases loaded.

Williams was only able to throw 19 strikes on 46 first inning pitches.

On the other hand, things didn’t start smoothly for the nation’s ERA leader, Mason Edwards either. The USC junior lefty was unable to find the strike zone, walking the first three Maryland batters to load the bases.

“I’m not gonna put words in his mouth but I think Lance would probably think he didn’t have a great feel today,” said head coach Matt Swope. “We had a plan going in versus the starter to not swing at the breaking ball, but he wasn’t sharp either.”

But with the bases loaded and zero outs, the Terps weren’t able to do much. A deep single to right field from junior David Mendez plated one for the Terps, but Edwards was able to prevent any further damage. Sophomore catcher Rylen Stockton watched strike three and sophomore Paul Jones II grounded into a double play to end the first inning at 4-1 USC.

Williams bounced back in the second inning, though. Despite giving up a leadoff walk, Williams was able to put his first zero on the scoreboard.

For USC, Edwards began to show why he’s been one of the Big Ten’s best, striking out three Maryland batters to add to his Big Ten-leading total.

The Trojans added to their lead to begin the third. Sophomore Maximo Martinez launched a long fly ball toward the scoreboard in left-center field that cleared the fence. The leadoff home run was soon followed by a pair of run-scoring singles and an RBI groundout before Swope decided to take the ball away from Williams. Junior right-hander Andrew Koshy took the mound next, ending the frame while only allowing one of his inherited runners to score. Halfway through three innings, the Trojans led 10-1.

Williams would finish his day giving up 10 earned runs on five hits and seven walks through 2.2 innings pitched.

While Edwards seemed to struggle with his command again in the third, the Terps again couldn’t score more than one. Edwards allowed Mendez to reach base after hitting him with a pitch. Medez would eventually reach third base after a USC throwing error and score after a wild pitch from Edwards. The lefty walked Stockton and Jones II, yet escaped the inning after striking out freshman outfielder Bud Coombs.

In Koshy’s first full inning of work, the Trojans would take that run right back on a sacrifice fly from Richard Tejada.

After a scoreless inning for the Terps in the fourth, Koshy returned to the mound with a scoreless inning of his own in the fifth.

In the bottom of the frame, Maryland started to hit around Edwards. The Terps knocked three straight singles, loading the bases with only one out. USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz elected to go with right-handed pitcher Henry Chabot to escape the jam.

Upon Chabot’s entry, he immediately walked Coombs, allowing Mendez to score his third run of the game. Freshman centerfielder Nate Hawton-Henley followed with another RBI walk. However, for the second time of day the Terps had a bases loaded opportunity ruined by a double play.

The two RBI walks that Chabot allowed marked a new season high three earned runs allowed for Edwards. He finished his day going 4.1 innings with 10 strikeouts while giving up five hits and six walks. The 4.1 innings is also a season-low for Edwards.

After a scoreless sixth inning for both sides, redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Quinn Yellin took the mound to make his collegiate debut. 

Yellin immediately introduced him and got his first career strikeout against his first batter faced. After surrendering back-to-back walks, back-to-back flyouts gave Yellin a scoreless inning of his own.

The Terps cut USC’s lead to four in the seventh after Stockton hit his fifth home run of the season and Sirois hit a two-run double.

Freshman Peyton Mamula took the mound in the eighth, also making his collegiate debut. In his first inning of work, Mamula set USC down 1-2-3.

The Terps continued to scratch and claw their way back into a competitive game in the bottom of the eighth. Costello cut the Trojans’ lead down to two after launching a home run over the right field wall. After they loaded the bases, the Terps were able to bring it within one as Stockton scored on a wild pitch. Entering the ninth inning, the Terps trailed the Trojans 11-10.

Swope kept it going with his young arms to begin the ninth, bringing in freshman lefty Austin Weiss to take the mound.

Weiss contributed the fifth straight scoreless inning pitched by the Terps that was capped off by a swing and miss strikeout that got the dugout fired up. 

“We got a lot of injuries going on so in these situations you got to give guys opportunities and make them earn it,” Swope said.

Down to their final three outs, the Terps found themselves down by one to one of the best teams in the country.

The Dirty Terps fell just short of the miraculous comeback as they were set down in order in the ninth.

“You can look at the end of it, but the game was in the first inning,” said Swope. “We have to turn that double play in the first inning, and base running mistakes cost us two runs in the first inning.”

The Terps are back at “The Bob” tomorrow for game two of the series. Tune into MBN’s broadcast for first pitch at 2 p.m. where Daniel Stein and Benji Kaufman will be on the call.