The Terps found themselves down double digits and on their third pitcher of the game after just one and a half innings. Poor pitching and repeated defensive mistakes dug the Terps a huge hole early in the game that proved to be too deep to climb out from.

Tied for their biggest loss of the year, Maryland (22-25, 6-17) fell to the Michigan Wolverines (29-17, 14-9) in Game 2, clinching the series loss with a 17-5 defeat in just seven innings.

An early defensive mistake put starter Brayden Ryan in a tough spot in the first. With a runner on first, Joonsung Park hit a chopper right in front of the plate. As Devin Russell fielded the ball, he appeared to set up to throw to first, but when he opted to make the throw to second the catch wasn’t completed.

“You know, you can’t shoot yourself in the foot and give them a free out when it comes to such an easy play,” head coach Matt Swope said. “Whether it’s two or one there, but that just can’t start off the game.”

With both runners reaching scoring position, a run would score on the ensuing groundout to give Michigan an early one-run lead. 

Things got out of hand in the second, though, as Ryan fell apart. The right-hander allowed seven runs to score on eight consecutive hits, one of which was a three-run shot over the right field wall from Brayden Jefferis. 

Ryan’s day would only last 1.1 innings before righty James Gladden took over on the mound. Ryan’s final line would end with 10 runs allowed on 10 hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Gladden wasn’t able to escape the inning either. The redshirt junior could only collect one out as he let two inherited runners score on wild pitches. Gladden threw three wild pitches before getting pulled.

Sophomore Jake Yeager was called on to get the final out of the inning. The righty was able to force a pop fly, but midway through the second, the Wolverines were already up 10-0. It was the tenth time this season Maryland surrendered six or more runs in an inning.

While Maryland couldn’t do much on offense through the first three innings, Michigan kept its bats hot in the fourth.

The Wolverines extended their lead to 13 after Colby Turner put a charge into a ball that cleared the left-center field wall.

Paul Jones II gave the Terps their first run of the day on an RBI single after Ryan Costello and Ty Kaunas both reached base on walks.

Michigan starter Shane Brinham walked the next three batters, loading the bases and bringing another two runs across the plate for Maryland. 

In the Terps’ best inning of the day, they kept it going as Brayden Martin reached base on an error that allowed a fourth Maryland run to score.

“You know whether you’re up, down or things are going well for you or not going well, if you want to be successful, you have to stay on the process,” Swope said.

The Terps found themselves with their best opportunity to cut into the deficit in the seventh inning but ultimately fell short.

With bases loaded and no outs, Maryland was only able to add one run after Martin put a ground ball in play to advance the runner from third.

Lefty Landon Edwards, who took over in the fifth inning, recorded his longest appearance in over two months, pitching 2.1 innings. He was removed in the seventh after walking back-to-back batters.

Swope turned to redshirt freshman Quinn Yellin to get out of the jam. 

Yellin, who entered the game with only one collegiate inning pitched, couldn’t prevent Michigan from scoring again. After allowing one to score on an RBI single, the righty gave up the third three-run home run of the game to Michigan.

With Michigan taking a 17-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh, the Dirty Terps were at risk of a mercy rule.

The Terps had no response as they went down 1-2-3 to cement their second 12-run loss in the last week. 

“We got our best guy going tomorrow in Hastings and until you’re mathematically out of it for the tournament, these guys aren’t going to quit,” Swope said.

The Terps will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m. Make sure to tune into MBN’s broadcast with Daniel Stein and Nick Polinsky for the first pitch and everything else Maryland baseball.