Through nine innings, Sunday’s series finale between Maryland baseball had a two run lead over the Michigan Wolverines. With Maryland’s hopes for a Big Ten tournament berth continuing to slip, a win was desperately needed for the Terps, so they were thrilled after Evan Haeger came to the box for Michigan’s final out.

Haeger and Koshy battled to a full count, but Haeger got the better of it and drew a walk. After Carson Luna previously stole second, Brayden Jefferis returned to the box with a chance to give Michigan the lead. 

Instead, he singled and got Luna home. With one out to go, Maryland put right-hander Ryan Bailey onto the mound to face Joonsung Park, pulling out all the stops to get the win. However, Park blasted a deep shot to right field, and Coombs couldn’t make the play this time. Jefferis and Haeger both made it home, giving the Wolverines a one-run lead. 

The Terps (22-26, 6-18) had no response in the bottom of the frame dropping Game 3 to Michigan (30-17, 15-9) 8-7.

“Just got to finish the game down there, I was disappointed in the freebies in that frame,” Swope said. “They’re feeling the pain for sure.”

Sophomore righty Logan Hastings got the start for Maryland, who has arguably been the Terps’ best pitcher this year. Despite his great season, the Wolverines gave him a little more than he bargained for after two outs in the first inning.

After walking Michigan’s Haeger, Hastings plunked Jefferis to put multiple Wolverines on the basepaths. Hastings would then walk Park in his third eight-pitch at bat of the inning. Luckily, a ball from Ossenfort fell just short of the warning track and into Coombs’ glove, cleaning out the bases.

What took Hastings 32 pitches would only take Michigan starter righty David Lally Jr. 13, as he quickly squelched the Terps’ first three batters. He tallied two strikeouts to help get the Wolverines offense back on the diamond quickly.

Maryland’s defense would return the favor, keeping the Wolverines off base in the next inning apart from another beanball. Catcher Devin Russell ended the inning with a good throw to Ty Kaunas, who caught the Wolverines’ Drew Culbertson stealing second base.

David Mendez would be the Terp to get things moving on offense, as he blasted a one-out double to center that was a few feet from hopping over the batter’s eye for a homer. Despite the spark, Maryland was unable to capitalize and two quick outs left Mendez hanging.

After the Terps stranded their tenth runner in scoring position of the series, the Wolverines would make them pay in the following inning.

With the top of Michigan’s order back in the box, Cooper Mullins began the inning with a single, followed by a ball crushed to left field by Colby Turner that got over the wall and gave the Wolverines their first two runs of the game.

After Haeger walked, the run continued for the Wolverines when Jefferis hit a ball deep to right field that Coombs’ couldn’t corral. Haeger sprinted all the way to home from first base to add another run to the lead.

Michigan would add one more to their tally after Ossenfort connected, resulting in a battle between Jefferis and Russell at home plate. Jefferis got there first and increased Michigan’s lead to four before the inning ended.

Knowing a win today would be crucial for their playoff chances, the Dirty Terps began to get an offensive rally going. A walk from Russell set Brayden Martin up well, and he delivered a single to center field. Despite the early flame, two straight outs once again ended the chance.

Hastings remained in the game, despite reaching 75 total pitches after his first throw of the fourth inning. He would get the short inning he needed when Michigan’s batters went down 1-2-3, with help from a stunning leap from Coombs to save a homer.

Lally Jr. began losing control of his ball when Maryland’s offense took the field again, giving the first two Terps he faced in the inning a free trip to first base. Nate Hawton-Henley would finally get the Terps on the board, drilling a ball to right field that gave Ryan Costello the space to make it home.

The inning ended shortly after, and it was up to Hastings to keep the momentum on the Terps’ side. Things got murky when Haeger led the inning off with a single, before advancing all the way to third when Jefferis got his own hit.

With runners now at the corners, Haeger slipped home after a failed stealing attempt at second base, giving the Wolverines their fifth run. Seeing the Wolverines continue to build their lead, the Terps offense needed to respond.

After Martin walked to start the half inning, Crosland launched a ball deep to center field that added two runs to the Terps’ score, cutting the deficit in half. Though Mendez would get to second base two outs later, he wouldn’t get the chance to advance further.

After throwing nearly 100 pitches in a five-inning battle of endurance, Hastings took his leave for the day. Maryland would send righty Andrew Koshy on the mound in his place. Koshy initially struggled to find the zone, allowing two walks in the inning. With two outs, an error gave Elie Kligman a chance to make it home, but he couldn’t beat Russell to the plate.

In the sixth inning, Michigan made their own pitching change, sending Michael Quedens onto the mound. Maryland would soon find the opening they needed to tie the game, in the most bizarre of ways.

After Hawton-Henley and Kaunas both advanced into scoring position, Michigan attempted a hidden ball trick that went awry when Quedens was called for a balk, giving Kaunas a free run. Martin used his bat to his advantage, bunting to give Hawton-Henley a free lane to home plate and tying the game back up.

“Coming back from down 5-1, I just felt like we had a professional approach throughout the rest of the day,” Swope said. “Both of the two run homers to put us up were big swings, and their pitching staff is good, really, really good. ”

Koshy helped keep the momentum up for Maryland, putting Michigan down 1-2-3 with two strikeouts in the next half inning. Michigan made a quick switch on the mound, putting true freshman Slade Moore at the help, but the Terps’ run continued.

Costello walked to start the seventh inning, before Mendez blasted a homer to right field which broke the stalemate. Now leading 7-5 late in the game, the Terps had a very clear opportunity to run away with the win.

After his rough start, Moore re-focused and ended the inning himself, striking out the next three batters to put Koshy back on the mound for Maryland. After he put up his second straight 1-2-3 inning and fourth strikeout of the day, the Terps could see a series ending win getting closer and closer.

“(Koshy) did a really good job until that last inning. He was pounding the zone, working ahead and had them off balance again and again,” Swope.

Michigan would send Erik Puodziunas onto the mound, tasked to do whatever he could to stop the Terps from running up the score. He did his job, taking the Terps’ batters down 1-2-3.

Koshy returned to the mound, holding a two-run lead and needing three outs to end it. Things started out hairy when Jack Laffitte was plunked, but Coombs evened it out with another incredible save in the outfield to turn the run into their first out. He would do it again for the second out, but they just couldn’t get the third.

“So, you know, you have a freshman who’s dynamic, and that’s why he’s been in the game, giving him lots of chances,” Swope said of Coombs’ performance after the game. “He took the home run away earlier on. That was a dynamic play. And then that one in the ninth, I know he’d like to have that one back.”

Entering the bottom of the ninth, Cade Montgomery took the mound for Michigan, hoping to close out their sweep in a chaotic conference series. He would be facing 3-4-5 in the Terps’ order. After Coombs struck out swinging, Costello and Mendez walked to put the winning run on the basepaths. 
After Paul Jones II flied out, Kaunas took the mound with the Terps down to their final out. He gave it his best shot, but he missed on his swings for the fences and the Terps would officially take an 8-7 loss and their third time swept in a Big Ten series this season.

Maryland will head up the road on Tuesday for its second matchup with the Towson Tigers this season. Tune into MBN’s broadcast for first pitch at 3:00 p.m.