Maryland baseball used a four-run rally in the ninth inning to defeat Illinois, 4-2, to start a weekend series on Friday night in Champaign.
Illinois starting pitcher Andy Fisher dominated the Terps’ offense from the get-go, giving up one run on three hits and struck out nine over 8.1 innings. But closer Garrett Acton came in with one out in the ninth and blew his first save opportunity of the year. He allowed a sacrifice bunt to tie the game at two and later issued a wild pitch that scored two runs, giving the Terps the lead.
Maryland starting pitcher Hunter Parsons got hit around but was able to escape a couple of jams to hold Illinois to two runs.