After a weekend series which saw Maryland take two out of three in Columbus, the Terps remain on the road, though closer to home as they take on the George Washington Colonials for this week’s midweek game.

This will be Maryland’s second midweek matchup against George Washington, with the Terps taking the first matchup at home in a 9-6 victory. Maryland also comes into this game on a roll after earning its 17th straight conference series win against Ohio State this past weekend.

Jason Savacool had yet another dominant outing to start out the weekend, only allowing six hits and one run in a six-inning outing to lead Maryland to the 7-5 victory. Saturday would prove to be more suspenseful for the Terps, though Eddie Hacopian sealed the 3-2 victory and series win with an eighth inning RBI single. Kyle McCoy made his first start after being hit in the face by a line drive against Rutgers last Sunday, and the freshman proved to be a bit rusty, allowing six runs in only 3.1 innings as the Terps dropped the final game of the series, 13-8.

George Washington Colonials (13-24, 4-5 A10)

Last Season

George Washington didn’t have the strongest season, finishing with a 22-30 record overall and 10-14 record in conference play. The Colonials finished ninth overall in the A10, which wasn’t good enough to make the conference tournament. George Washington ended its season with a series win against UMass.

The Colonials’ offense wasn’t an issue last season, as they finished with a .285/.368/.409 slash line, with their batting average being good enough for fourth overall in the conference. They were led by First Team A10 Conference member Cade Fergus, who had a .321 batting average and team-leading 13 home runs and 37 RBI.

George Washington’s pitching wasn’t top tier, but its 5.43 team ERA was good enough for fourth in the conference. Although this may be a sign of weaker A10 pitching overall, as the Colonials allowed opponents to have a .284 batting average and possessed a substandard 1.62 WHIP on the year.

This Season

The Colonials have seemingly suffered a slight regression this year, though they come into this weekend with a decent amount of momentum after gaining their first conference series win against Fordham. They outscored Fordham 32-21 to take two out of three in a hard-fought battle between the conference foes.

George Washington could build more momentum for conference play if they are able to beat the Terps. A Tuesday victory would give them their first three-game win streak of the season heading into a home weekend series with VCU, the defending A10 conference champions.

Hitters to Watch

George Washington lost its best hitter in Cade Fergus to the 2022 MLB Draft after he was selected in the 13th round by the Philadelphia Phillies, but the Colonials have stepped up for a nearly identical .285/.371/.431 on the year so far.

Eddie Micheletti has come into his own after his 2022 season was cut short by injury as he leads the team with a .361 batting average and also has three home runs and 31 RBI on the season. Graduate student and transfer Michael Kohn has also been a huge add as he as .326/.438/.576 slash line with a team leading seven homers and 34 RBI. Sam Gates has also been a rising star for George Washington, as he didn’t play in his first season last year due to injury, but he holds a .314 batting average with four home runs and 22 RBI on the year.

Pitchers to Watch

Pitching this year has been truly abysmal with a 7.56 ERA, allowing a .311 batting average to opponents with a disastrous 1.85 WHIP on the year. Though one Colonial who has stood out for good reasons on the pitching staff is Colin Ruddy, who has a 4.85 ERA after 13 IP, with his best outing being against Binghamton where he pitched a hitless and scoreless 3.2 inning outing.

There is also Max Haug, who started George Washington’s last midweek game against Maryland and had his best outing on the year, tossing five innings while only allowing six hits and two runs on the day. Haug has only gone downward since however, as he has an 8.74 ERA on the year with a 1.99 WHIP after 22.2 IP.

Probable Starting Pitchers

TBD

The Terps haven’t had a consistent midweek starter since head coach Rob Vaughn moved McCoy into the Sunday starting role. Nate Haberthier may start another Tuesday game, although with a 7.32 ERA on the year and a 2.2 inning start with three runs allowed last Tuesday against Georgetown, Vaughn may look elsewhere. Ryan Van Buren, who didn’t pitch this weekend and has started in Tuesday games in the past, is another potential candidate to start.

George Washington has also had no consistent Tuesday starters through the year, starting a different player in each of its past four midweek games. Austin Odell has six starts under his belt, highlighted by a 6.0 inning one run outing against JMU, and he didn’t pitch in the Fordham series, which probably makes him the Colonials strongest starting candidate.

Maryland seeks its 17th straight Big Ten series win, a streak that dates back to April 2021 as they face Ohio State this weekend on the road. 

The Terps are coming off a tough midweek loss to Georgetown. In what has become a common theme this season, the pitching staff struggled, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits to the Hoyas. The Terps valiant comeback effort fell short after a five-run ninth sent the game to extras, as Maryland fell 10-9 in 10 innings.  

The Terps swept the Buckeyes in come-from-behind fashion last season as part of a 23-4 stretch which culminated in the team’s first-ever Big Ten regular season championship. 

Here’s what you should know about the Terps’ weekend opponent.  

Last season

The Buckeyes finished third-to-last in the Big Ten in 2022, due in large part to their 3-13 start in conference play. The Buckeyes’ pitching struggled last season, ranking bottom five in the conference in ERA and runs allowed. The defense suffered as well, ranking last in fielding percentage and errors committed. After season-ending series victories against Northwestern and Penn State, two teams in the middle of the Big Ten standings, there was optimism around the program heading into 2023.

This season

Ohio State had decent success playing one of the tougher, if not the toughest, non-conference schedule in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes faced four NCAA Regional teams to start the season, going 4-5 in those games. They also defeated 2021 College World Series champion Mississippi State during that early-season stretch. 

After finishing the non-conference slate with a 10-2 stretch, the Buckeyes have gotten off to another slow start in conference play, largely due to their struggles on the mound. Since Big Ten play began, no team has walked more hitters or allowed more runs than the Buckeyes, which also ranks second-to-last with a 7.63 ERA. 

Hitters to Watch

Freshman phenom Matthew Graveline paces the Buckeyes with a .354 average. The catcher has been one of the top hitters since the start of Big Ten play. Graveline has reached base in each of the team’s nine conference matchups, highlighted by a 3 for 4 day with a homer and four RBIs on Sunday.

After going 0 for 1 in the Big Ten opener, sophomore Tyler Pettorini has since reached base in every conference game. The infielder’s .400 average is top 10 in Big Ten play. Pettorini also has three consecutive multi-hit games against conference opponents.

The Buckeyes rank in the middle of the Big Ten in most offensive categories, although like the Terps, they are disciplined at the plate. Ohio State sits second in the conference in walks. Four players are hitting over .300 and grad student Marcus Ernst leads the team with six homers.

Pitchers to Watch

San Francisco grad transfer Jonah Jenkins has been excellent out of the Buckeye bullpen, pacing the team with a 2.20 ERA over 12 appearances (28 2/3 innings). The right-hander’s sparkling season-opening outing in which he threw 4 2/3 innings of one-hit ball against 2022 Super Regional qualifier UConn was a precursor of what was to come. Over Jenkins’ last nine innings pitched, which spans over three outings, he has allowed no earned runs, five hits and three walks. 

Lefty Landon Beidelschies is another key cog in the Ohio State bullpen. The freshman, who recorded three no-hitters and a perfect game last year at Ohio’s Canfield High School, has continued his dominance at the Division One level. Over the last 14 innings (nine appearances), Beidelschies has given up two earned runs and notched three saves. On the season, the left-hander possesses a 2.70 ERA and leads Buckeye relievers in strikeouts (29) and is top five in the Big Ten with four saves.

Probable Starting Pitcher Matchups

Friday, April 14: Jason Savacool and Isaiah Coupet

Saturday, April 15: Nick Dean and Gavin Bruni

Sunday, April 16: TBD and TBD

Another midweek game has been added to the Maryland schedule.

The Terps are set to host the Georgetown Hoyas on Tuesday at Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium, which will serve as the second matchup out of three between the two teams.

Georgetown traveled to College Park just two weeks prior to this week’s matchup in which Maryland came away with a 10-7 victory. The Terps will then serve as the away team in two weeks to close out the season series at Shirley Povich Field.

This will be Maryland’s fifth straight home game after a blowout loss to William & Mary last Tuesday and a series win over Rutgers over the weekend.

Despite winning the first two games against the Scarlet Knights, the Terps were not able to secure the series sweep on Sunday.

Here’s what to look out for against the visiting Hoyas.

Georgetown Hoyas (17-15)

Last Season

Georgetown put up some decent numbers in 2022.

In the eight-team Big East Conference, Georgetown finished with the fourth-best winning percentage within the conference behind UConn, Creighton, and Xavier. Teams that finished below Georgetown include Villanova, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and Butler.

When it came time for the Big East Championship at the end of last May, the Hoyas got blanked by the No. 1 Huskies and got blown out by the No. 3 Musketeers.

Overall, the Hoyas finished to a 32-24 record and went 11-10 in conference play. They were dominant on the road but struggled at home.

Maryland beat Georgetown twice in four days last March and then capped off the season sweep with a 19-1 destruction last May for good measure.

This Season

The Hoyas enter the midweek matchup with a 17-15 record and continue to struggle on the road with a 6-11 record at visiting ballparks.

Despite starting the season with six wins in seven games, Georgetown has struggled to get into find a solid groove since then.

They enter College Park after a weekend trip to New Jersey in which they lost two out of three games to Seton Hall.

Prior to last weekend, Georgetown lost to George Mason last Tuesday at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy. Conference play within the Big East was kicked off the weekend before that as the Hoyas took two out of three against Villanova in Philadelphia.

Hitters to Watch

Two players have been mostly carrying the offensive load.

Ubaldo Lopez leads the way for the Hoyas in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. He also brings a power element to the team as he is tied for the team lead in home runs with nine.

Jake Hyde ranks second in all of these categories behind Lopez and is also tied for the team lead in home runs. 

Pitchers to Watch

Since it’s a midweek matchup, it would be wise to pinpoint a reliever who has been a key contributor to the Georgetown pitching: Jordan Yoder.

The right-handed graduated student has appeared in 17 games this season and has pitched to a 3.15 ERA thus far. He has pitched 20 innings during that span and has given up seven earned runs and 17 hits.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Maryland has had a plethora of pitchers open a game, especially on a midweek matchup. While it is tough to call who will get to pitch first, expect to see a variety of arms used. RHP Kai Leckszas should be favored for Georgetown.

Maryland is set to face Rutgers as they prepare for their first home series of Big Ten conference play.

The Terps are looking to bounce back from their most recent 13-3 loss to William & Mary, where they walked 14 batters and allowed 12 hits. That defeat broke their three-game home winning streak.

Before their loss to William & Mary, the Terps had lost to Iowa in the third game of their first conference series. Maryland was on a five-game winning streak, including two against the Hawkeyes, before its most recent back-to-back.

Although no longer part of the D1Baseball Top 25 Rankings, Maryland will look to improve on its 17-11 season.

Here is what to look for from the Scarlet Knights this weekend.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-13)

Last Season

Rutgers ended its 2022 campaign with a 44-15 record and finished second in the Big Ten, just one conference win behind Maryland.  The Scarlet Knights battled through a strong conference featuring powerhouses like Iowa and Illinois. Their impressive year came to a halt after losing the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan, 10-4.

Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, Rutgers will be seeking its second-ever College World Series appearance in 2023.

This Season

Starting off 15-13, Rutgers has been far from it was the year prior. Both UConn and UNC Greensboro swept the Scarlet Knights, while Campbell was able to win the opening series.  Rutgers’ first conference series of 2023 saw Michigan State in which they lost the first two but were able to capture the final game decisively. The Scarlet Knights will be riding high coming into this series with their most recent win being a 5-0 shutout victory at home against Hofstra Tuesday.

After visiting College Park, Rutgers will return to New Jersey to face Seton Hall, Marist and then the raining Big Ten Conference Champion, Michigan Wolverines. Conference play will continue with matchups against Northwestern and Purdue to wrap up the month of April.

Hitters to Watch

Despite the slow start, Rutgers bats have been on fire, posting a conference-leading 294 hits thanks to guys like Evan Sleight, Trevor Cohen and Ryan Lasko.

Batting from the four-hole, Sleight has been one of the most consistent hitters for his squad. The junior left-fielder has a team-leading .386 batting average to complement his seven home runs and .693 slugging percentage. Cohen, another outfielder for Rutgers, has found himself sitting at a .377 batting average with 21 runs batted in. The Scarlet Knights’ trifecta of sluggers isn’t completed without Lasko. Slugging at .505 with 55 total bases, the 2022 All-Big Ten First Team recipient hasn’t missed a beat.

Rutgers has four starters currently batting above a .300 clip, seven with at least 18 runs batted in and three with more than 50 total bases, which only includes players that meet a minimum requirement of two plate appearances per game and 75 percent of games played so far this season.

Pitchers to Watch

Ben Gorski has been the brightest spot out of the bullpen for Rutgers so far. The junior has put up a 1.37 ERA and held opponents to a .129 batting average through twelve appearances. Through 19.2 innings pitched, Gorski has struck out 26 batters while allowing just eight hits.

Probable Starting Pitchers

Friday, April 7^th: Jason Savacool and Drew Conover

Saturday, April 8^th: Nick Dean and Christian Coppola

Sunday, April 9^th: Kyle McCoy and Jake Marshall

The Terps are back home to face DMV opponent.

Maryland is back at the Bob after taking on the University of Iowa this past weekend. The Terps went 2-1 against the Hawkeyes to claim their conference series win.

On Tuesday, the team will welcome William and Mary to campus in their first matchup since 2019. The last time the Terps faced the Tribe, Maryland suffered a tough loss and William and Mary claimed their 8-1 victory.

In the last 10 games, Maryland has gone 7-3 and currently has an overall season record of 17-10. On Tuesday’s match, the Terps hope to break their losing streak and get back on track.

Here’s what you should expect from the Tribe.

William and Mary Tribe (18-11)

Last Season

The Tribe finished the 2022 season with a 26-23 overall record and a 14-10 conference record. That mark was good enough to put them in fourth place out of the nine teams competing in the CAA tournament.

After going into the tournament on an 8-match winning streak, the Tribe ended their season with two consecutive tournament losses, the first to Northeastern before they were knocked out of the tournament by Elon. Despite this unfortunate end, the team managed to only finish beneath Charleston, Hofstra, and UNCW.

This Season

This season, the Tribe sits with an overall record of 18-11 and a conference record of 5-4. William and Mary is currently ranked five, with Elon, UNCW, Northeastern, and Charleston ahead of them. In their past games of the 2023 season, impressive pitching has been shown. The Tribe currently ranks 11th nationally with a 3.32 ERA. On Tuesday, William and Mary will be bringing a five-game winning streak to College Park.

After facing the Terps, the Tribe will head up to New York to face Stony Brook in a three-game series this upcoming weekend before heading back home to play against VCU next Tuesday. After that, the Tribe will get on the road again for yet another three-game series against Elon.

Hitters to Watch

In the 2022 season, during his first year on the team, Lucas Carmichael had a .405 OB% and brought fire to the Tribe as he totaled up seven hits and 6 home runs. This season, Carmichael, who ranks 5th in the country, is helping William and Mary come out victorious. His impressive 13 doubles earned this season and current .504 OB% are examples of why Carmichael is such a dynamic bat for the Tribe.

Though Corey Adams is a new face for the Tribe, this freshman should not be overlooked. Over the weekend during William and Mary’s weekend series against St Joes’s, Adams scored twice and drove in four. Adams comes into Tuesday’s match with a current OB% of .356 and a .250 batting average.

Pitchers to Watch

During his 2022 season, Rojo Prarie saw action in 15 games, where he earned the winning pitcher on three accounts, as well as earning a pair of saves. Of the 20.1 earned all season, Prarie leads in allowing just 1 earned. In the Tribe’s most recent match against St John’s, Prarie assisted his team by racking up eight strikeouts.

In his 14 games played in the 2022 season, Senior Tom Mayer finished with a 4.41 ERA. Now, Mayer has an ERA of 3.55 and a 1.02 WHIP. In the more than 25 innings of this season, the righty is allowing opponents to hit just .217.

Both Prarie and Mayer are largely to owe for the Tribe’s accomplishment of allowing three or fewer earned runs and two or fewer walks in four of the five most recent games. William & Mary is 11th in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings and 15th in the nation in WHIP.

Projected Starting Pitchers

The Tribe has a large pool of pitchers this season, with a total of 21 pitchers consisting of 7 LHP’s and 14 RHP’s. Of these pitchers, Nate Knowles has started 9 games and has an impressive 2.18 ERA through the 33 innings he has pitched this season.

Maryland baseball travels to Iowa City this weekend to begin Big Ten play against the #25 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Terps (15-9) enter conference play hot, having won 11 of their last 13 games.

Maryland is coming off a 10-7 victory over Georgetown on Tuesday. After a back-and-forth affair through the first four innings, Nick Lorusso’s three-run homer in the fifth was the difference, giving the Terps a lead they would not relinquish. 

Last weekend, the Terps took two out of three games from UCF in Orlando. It was a huge series win to give them momentum heading into a tough task on the road to kick off conference play.

Here’s what to watch for against the Hawkeyes.

Iowa Hawkeyes (19-4)

Last Season

Iowa finished the 2022 season with a 36-19 overall record and a 17-7 conference record. That mark was good enough for a third place finish in the Big Ten, only behind Maryland and Rutgers.

The Hawkeyes fell to Michigan in the semifinal of the Big Ten tournament. The Terps were not on their schedule in 2022, so this weekend’s meeting will be the first between the two teams since 2021.

This Season

Iowa (19-4) stormed out of the gates this season, winning 10 of their first 11 games, including a win over #1 LSU. It was enough to get them a spot in the D1 Baseball Top 25 before dropping two out of three on the road to #22 Texas Tech.

They responded to their lone series loss of the season by winning their next eight and sneaking back into the rankings at #25. That winning streak was snapped on Tuesday, however; the Hawkeyes fell to Illinois State by a final of 5-3. 

Iowa holds a perfect 9-0 record at home, a mark that Maryland will look to change this weekend. After hosting the Terps, the Hawkeyes will hit the road to take on Bradley next Wednesday before heading to Bloomington to battle Indiana.

Hitters to Watch

The Hawkeyes’ lineup is headlined by sophomore two-way star Keaton Anthony, who took home Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Big Ten honors last season. Anthony is batting .329 with five home runs and a 1.074 OPS. He leads the team in total bases with 51 on the season.

Graduate utility player Brennen Dorighi paces the Hawkeyes with a .369 batting average and a .481 on-base percentage. A transfer from Wofford, Dorighi was a First Team All-SoCon selection last season and has continued his stellar play with his new team this year.

Junior outfielder Kyle Huckstorf is tied with Anthony for first on the team with five homers, along with a .364 batting average and a team-leading 1.094 OPS. Huckstorf was a Big Ten All-Tournament First Team selection last season, and even took home Collegiate National Player of the Week Honors on May 24 of last year.

Utility player Sam Petersen is enjoying a breakout season in his sophomore year in Iowa City. In  his first season as a full-time starter, Petersen is slashing .343/.467/.614. 

Pitchers to Watch

Iowa has a stellar pitching staff that currently holds the lowest ERA of any Big Ten team. They’re led by their ace, sophomore right-hander Brody Brecht. After earning All-Big Ten Freshman team honors as a reliever last year, Brecht has made the transition to the rotation this season and has excelled in that role. The right-hander holds a 2.20 ERA and has racked up 46 strikeouts in 28.2 innings while holding opponents to a .146 batting average. Formerly a two-sport athlete, Brecht gave up football ahead of this baseball season, as he is expected to hear his name called early in the 2024 MLB Draft.

The top arm out of a strong Iowa bullpen is Luke Llewellyn. The junior right-hander has appeared in nine games, more than any other Hawkeye, and has posted a 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. Opponents are batting just .146 off Llewellyn.

Six different pitchers have started on the mound for the Hawkeyes this season, but junior Ty Langenberg seems to be their go-to second starter behind Brecht. The right-hander has pitched in seven games, five of them starts, and holds a 4.39 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. 

Projected Starting Pitchers

Friday, March 31st: Jason Savacool and Brody Brecht

Saturday, April 1st: Nick Dean and TBD

Sunday, April 2nd: Kyle McCoy and TBD

Winners of eight of their last nine games, Maryland baseball looks to stay hot like the weather in Orlando this weekend when they head south to take on a strong UCF squad.

The Terps are coming off a midweek win over nearby George Washington in College Park on Tuesday. Back-to-back homers from Matt Woods and Kevin Keister capped a late inning rally to secure a 9-6 victory.

After a slow start to the season that dropped them out of the D1Baseball Top 25 rankings, Maryland has righted the ship over the last two weeks, taking advantage of a softer schedule than they played early in the season.

A good showing in sunny Florida this weekend would be a huge boost for the Terps ahead of their Big Ten opener at Iowa next weekend.

Here is what to watch for against the Knights.

UCF Knights (15-6)

Last Season:

UCF finished the 2022 season with a 35-23 overall record and a 14-10 conference record, good enough for second place in the American Athletic Conference behind East Carolina, who ran away with the conference title and advanced to the super regionals. The Knights fell to Houston in the AAC tournament semifinals.

Four Knights earned All-AAC honors last season, and two of them returned this year: pitcher Ben Vespi, and catcher/designated hitter Andrew Sundean.

This Season:

UCF has been impressive in 2023 thus far, boasting a 15-6 record, which includes a 5-0 record against ACC teams with series sweeps over Clemson and Florida State. The Knights also swept Siena in their season opener, and Dartmouth last weekend. They return home coming off a loss at North Florida on Tuesday. 

After hosting the Terps, UCF will visit Florida Atlantic next Tuesday before beginning conference play at home against South Florida, who Maryland took two of three games from to open the season.

Hitters to Watch:

UCF is tied for 7th across all of Division I with 45 home runs, and they’re led by senior catcher Ben McCabe. 

McCabe has been the Knights’ best hitter, putting up video game numbers through 21 games. He holds a .449 batting average with 10 home runs and a ridiculous .910 slugging percentage.

Sophomore catcher/designated hitter Andrew Sundean, who earned Second Team All-AAC honors last season, has picked up right where he left off. Sundean leads the team with a .455 batting average and a .523 on-base percentage. He is third on the team in hits despite only playing in 14 of 21 games so far.

Two other hitters to watch are freshman infielder Drew Faurot and senior infielder Tom Josten, who both boast an OPS north of 1.000 and have hit six and eight home runs, respectively.

Pitchers to Watch:

Senior Ruddy Gomez and sophomore Dom Stagliano have provided the Knights with a reliable 1-2 punch this season. Gomez has struck out 35 with a 3.07 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched, and Stagliano has a 3.95 ERA in 27.1 innings.

Kyle Kramer has been UCF’s best arm out of the bullpen. The senior right-hander has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 20 to 3 and has held opponents to a .178 batting average to the tune of a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings of work.

Projected Starting Pitchers:

Friday, March 24th: Jason Savacool and Ruddy Gomez

Saturday, March 25th: Nick Dean and Dom Stagliano

Sunday, March 26th: Kyle McCoy and Jacob Marlowe

No Spring Break for the Dirty Terps.

Maryland is back at the Bob for its fourth game in five days. The squad took care of business this past weekend, taking their series against Albany, 2-1. On Tuesday, they’ll welcome local opponent George Washington to campus. Maryland holds the all-time record against the Colonials, 48-29-4, but this will be the first time the two programs have faced off since 2016. 

The focus for the Terps coming into Tuesday’s game will be finding a balance between a potent offensive attack and a talented but inconsistent defense. In the Albany series, occasionally one was playing well at the expense of the other. In game one, we saw what that balance looked like, as the Terps’ offense exploded for 18 runs, with only three runs given up, all in the ninth inning. However, in game two, both offense and defense struggled in a 6-3 loss. In the finale, the offense struggled on a bitter day while the pitching and defense stifled the Great Danes in a 4-0 victory.

The Terps will hope to find that balance in Tuesday’s match. They currently sit at 11-8, sixth in the Big Ten. They’ll be looking to get as high as possible with conference play starting in just 10 days.

Here’s what you need to know about the visiting Colonials.

George Washington Colonials (5-16)

Last Season

George Washington finished last season with a 22-30 record, with a 10-14 record in conference. They finished ninth out of 12 teams, only followed by Fordham, UMass, and St. Bonaventure. The Colonials finished last season with two wins in a series victory over UMass. 

This Season

This season, the Colonials find themselves in a similar place. They currently sit at 5-16, which ranks tenth, with Dayton and St. Bonaventure behind them. So far, they have yet to win a series, getting swept by East Carolina and McNeese State and losing three series two games to one to Fairfield, Binghamton, and most recently, Niagara. Their two other victories came in midweek games against the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore on Feb. 22 and against Delaware on Mar 7. 

After today’s game, they will head back home to take on the Manhattan Jaspers in a three-game series this upcoming weekend and then will play James Madison next Tuesday. Then, it will be onto conference play against Dayton. 

Hitters to Watch 

George Washington has a collection of players who have had a strong start to the year offensively, most notably three starters who have yet to miss a game. 

Junior Eddie Micheletti Jr. highlights the group. He comes into Tuesday’s match with a .391 batting average, 1.028 OPS, and a .563 slugging percentage. He has tallied 34 hits, 19 RBIs, 11 runs scored, 10 walks, and 10 strikeouts. His 34 hits is currently the leader in the A-10 conference.

Senior Steve DiTomaso is the next best for the Colonials. He currently holds a .315 batting average, an .816 OPS, and a .446 slugging percentage. He has recorded 29 hits, 12 RBIs, 12 runs scored, 7 walks, and 13 strikeouts.

Finally, there is graduate student Michael Kohn. Kohn has notched a .312 batting average, a .976 OPS, and a .558 slugging percentage. He has 24 hits, 15 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 12 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

Pitchers to Watch

The Colonials only have two pitchers – junior Christopher Kahler and redshirt junior Logan Koester – who have averaged an inning pitched per game. 

Kahler has started this season on fire, recording a 2.87 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a .219 batting average allowed. He has allowed 25 hits and 10 runs while notching an impressive 31 strikeouts to 12 walks in 31.1 innings pitched.

Koester, on the other hand, has struggled to begin the 2023 campaign. He has recorded a 4.75 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and a .267 batting average allowed. He has allowed 32 hits and 16 runs while notching 17 strikeouts to 12 walks in 30.1 innings pitched.

Projected Starting Pitchers

Projected starting pitchers are currently unknown.

The Dirty Terps are coming back home.

After a successful road trip to Newark to take on Delaware, the Terps have extended their winning streak to five games. They’ll be looking to extend it even further this weekend, as they welcome the Albany Great Danes from the American East Conference. The two squads will face off at 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. 

Late game heroics came in clutch for the Terps on Wednesday afternoon, as they defeated the Blue Hens in a 13-11 10-inning thriller. Despite a shaky day defensively, the offense was humming from the start. The squad drove in six runs in the final two innings to secure the road win. Senior Nick Lorusso came up big, hitting his eighth home run of the year. He finished the day with two hits in five at-bats with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored. 

The Terps now sit at 9-7 on the young season. They’ll be looking for a successful weekend as they try to claw their way back into the rankings.

Here’s what you need to know about the visiting Great Danes.

Albany Great Danes (2-7-1)

Last Season

Albany wrapped up last season with a 22-25 overall record and an 11-19 conference record. They finished last in Division A of the American East, behind Maine, University of Massachusetts Lowell, and Hartford. However, they ended the season on a high note, with a victory over UMass Lowell, 4-1.

This Season

The Great Danes, 2-7-1, currently sit at second-to-last in their conference, with only UMass Lowell behind them. They started the season getting swept by Hofstra, losing two and tying one to Farleigh Dickinson, then finally getting in the win column against Central Connecticut State. Most recently, they went 1-2 in a series vs. St. John’s last weekend. They were supposed to play Army on Wednesday afternoon, but the game was postponed. 

Next weekend, they will head home to take on UMBC in a three-game series, then hit the road for an eight-game stretch. They will start that road trip against the University of Massachusetts at Amherst before beginning conference play against the New Jersey Institute of Technology the following weekend. 

Hitters to Watch

Albany has had a strong offensive output thus far despite its record. Junior Dan Tauken has far and away been Albany’s best hitter, leading the team in most offensive categories. He has tallied a .406 batting average with a team-high 13 hits, four of which have been doubles and three of which have been home runs. He also has recorded a phenomenal 1.313 OPS to go along with a .813 slugging percentage, 10 runs scored, and 12 RBIs. 

Redshirt senior Will Feil and redshirt junior Chris Fisher will be names to watch as well. Feil has recorded a .300 batting average, a .951 OPS, and a .500 slugging percentage with 12 hits, 9 runs scored, 12 RBIs, and a team-leading 11 walks. Fisher has recorded a .385 batting average, a .979 OPS, and a .423 slugging percentage with 10 hits, 8 runs scored, and 6 RBIs. 

These three are the only players for the Great Danes to have above a .300 batting average and above a .900 OPS.

Pitchers to Watch

Only three pitchers for the Great Danes – freshman Dylan Banner, redshirt junior Cregg Scherrer, and junior Connor Eisenmann – have averaged at least one inning pitched per game, and all three have struggled to start the new campaign. 

Banner holds a 6.57 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, and a .333 batting average allowed with 18 hits, 9 runs, 3 walks, and 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. Scherrer holds a 6.60 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, and a team best .328 batting average allowed with 20 hits, 12 runs, 9 walks, and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched. Finally, Eisenmann holds a rough 9.95 ERA, 2.21 WHIP, and a .333 batting average allowed with 18 hits, 16 runs, 10 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched.

Projected Starting Pitchers

Friday, March 17th: Jason Savacool and Cregg Scherrer

Saturday, March 18th: Nick Dean and Connor Eisenmann

Sunday, March 19th: Kyle McCoy and TBD

As Maryland plays its first midweek road game of the season, they face a familiar foe in the Delaware Blue Hens. Though, instead of losers of three of their last four, this time the Terps ride a four-game win streak that was highlighted by their first sweep of the season against the Maine Black Bears.

Maryland kicked off last weekend with a dominant 25-10 victory where Jason Savacool was in prime form after allowing only one run on two hits after six innings pitched. The Terps also hit six homers on the night with Matt Shaw, Nick Lorusso, and Elijah Lambros getting two a piece.

Saturday proved to be a bit more suspenseful, but the Terps squeaked by with a 5-4 victory after a solo shot by Ian Petrutz in the bottom of the eighth gave Maryland a permanent one-run lead. Nigel Belgrave closed out the ninth.

Nate Haberthier, Kyle McCoy, and David Falco Jr. all combined for a one-run day to clinch the sweep for Maryland with a 9-1 victory on Sunday, which also saw home runs from Matt Woods and Bobby Zmarzlak. The Terps’ efforts got them over the .500 plateau as they climbed to 8-7 on the year.

Delaware Blue Hens (6-9)

Last Season

Delaware had an underwhelming season last year as they only managed a 25-26 record and went a miserable 8-15 in conference play in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Blue Hens finished second-to-last in the conference and went into the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed. Their season ended with two straight losses to the No. 6 Northeastern in the tournament. 

Delaware’s offense was far from miserable last year, however, as they finished the year with a .277/.356/.439 slash line, with the batting average being good enough to place them at the top of their conference. The Blue Hens also had three hitters bat over .300 on the year in second team All-CAA Joseph Carpenter, two-way player Bryce Greenly, and Jake Dunion. Two out of three of these players remain on the roster. It was the Blue Hens’ pitching that gave them issues, as their above-five ERA and 1.54 WHIP was only good enough for seventh in the conference.

This Season

Delaware has continued its losing ways, as after 15 games they once again find themselves underwater at 6-9. The Blue Hens offense has remained at a high level with an even higher slash line of .287/.402/.473, but their pitching has fallen off a cliff with an overall ERA of 8.54 and a horrendous WHIP that sits at 2.01. However, the team comes into Tuesday relatively hot after they took two of three during a weekend series at home in which they outscored Hofstra 40-22.

Hitters to Watch

Delaware lost one of its best hitters from last year in Joseph Carpenter, but the Hens have had multiple players fill the gap. Like last year, Bryce Greenly continues to lead the team with a .368 batting average, with his 21 hits on the year being good enough for second-best on the team. 2022 First team All-CAA Joey Loynd continues to build on last year’s campaign, with a slash line of .344/.419/.656 as he leads the team with 22 RBIs and four home runs. 2022 Honorable mention All-CAA member JJ Freeman, Jake Dunion, and Brett Lesher are also all batting over .300 for the Blue Hens.

Pitchers to Watch

Although Delaware’s pitching has been unquestionably horrendous to start the year, there have been those who have been far from disappointing. One such name is Joey Silan who in four appearances and 16.1 IP has maintained a 4.41 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. Dan Frake has also made four appearances and has maintained a 3.48 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP after 10.1 IP. And Bryce Greenly is once again earning his two way player title as he has started four games in four appearances so far, although he does have an 0-2 record with a 6.00 ERA. 

Probable Starting Pitching Matchup

TBD

One cannot predict for certain who will start this game for the Terps, though it remains a strong possibility that Logan Ott will get the nod. This is after the midweek starter in the last two games in Kyle McCoy pitched three innings in the Sunday win against Maine. Ott has formed the second part of a one-two punch with McCoy for midweek games with a 4.85 ERA in 13 IP and a 2-0 record on the year. Ott did not pitch this weekend, so there is a strong chance he at least makes an appearance against the Blue Hens.

In Delaware’s three midweek games on the year, there have been three different starters, although Wyatt Nelson, who started the midweek game against the Terps two weeks ago, has been utilized heavily in every midweek game so far. Nelson also did not pitch in any of the Hofstra games in the weekend series for the Blue Hens, so he may earn the start for Wednesday’s game in Newark.