TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — Aaron Piasecki’s three-run homer in the third inning erased an early deficit and propelled the Troy Trojans to a 5-2 victory over the Maryland Terrapins on Friday night in a non-conference baseball game delayed by weather at Riddle-Pace Field.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the bottom of the third, turning the contest on its head. Maryland starter Lance Williams, who was dominant early with six strikeouts through the first two innings, hit Troy’s Cavill with a pitch to start the frame. Janicki then reached on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error by Maryland third baseman Sirois, putting two runners on. Piasecki followed by launching his third home run of the season over the left-field wall, scoring three runs, two of them unearned due to the error. The blast gave Troy a 3-2 lead it would not relinquish.

The Trojans added single runs in the fourth and eighth innings to pad their advantage. In the fourth, Sean Darnell, who finished 2 for 3, was hit by a pitch, was bunted over and scored on an RBI single through the right side by Zaid Diaz. In the eighth, a two-out RBI single by Book off Maryland reliever Joseph Fredericks scored Nelson to make it 5-2.

Maryland mounted a final threat in the ninth against Troy reliever Cooper Ellingworth. After two walks, Terrapins second baseman David Mendez laced a two-run double to left-center, scoring both runners to cut the deficit to three. Troy then brought in closer Dylan Alonso, who needed just one pitch to induce a game-ending groundout to shortstop from Costello, stranding the tying run in the on-deck circle.

The win improved Troy’s record to 6-7, while Maryland fell to 7-4. The outcome defied the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast an 8-5 Maryland victory, though Troy’s 57% win probability according to the service’s ELO system proved more accurate.

Troy starter Tommy Egan earned the win with a stellar five-inning outing, allowing five hits and no earned runs while striking out seven. He effectively worked around Maryland’s early scoring, which occurred before the game’s official first pitch. The contest’s start was pushed back to 7 p.m. CT due to weather, and the provided play-by-play data lists Maryland leading 2-0 at the beginning of the top of the first inning, indicating the Terrapins’ runs were recorded prior to the resumption of play.

Egan’s performance marked a rebound from his previous start, a loss to Western Carolina on Feb. 27 where he allowed three earned runs. Ellingworth picked up a save, pitching 3 2/3 innings of relief and allowing two earned runs on two hits.

Despite taking the loss, Maryland’s Lance Williams turned in a bizarre and dominant line, striking out 10 batters over six innings while not allowing a single hit. However, he was charged with three runs, only one earned, stemming from the error and Piasecki’s homer in the third. Cristofer Cespedes provided a scoreless inning of relief for the Terrapins.

Both teams finished with seven hits. Maryland’s offense was hampered by grounding into two double plays, one in the third and another in the seventh, which stifled potential rallies.

The teams continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field. Maryland is scheduled to visit West Virginia on Tuesday, while Troy will host Alabama on the same day.