FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — The Virginia Cavaliers erupted for nine runs in a chaotic bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday night, turning a tight contest into a 16-6 rout of the Maryland Terrapins at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The game, a midweek nonconference clash, appeared headed for a tense finish until the Cavaliers sent 14 batters to the plate in the eighth, capitalizing on Maryland’s faltering pitching and defense to break open a 7-6 lead.

Virginia improved to 21-5 with its sixth win in seven games, while Maryland fell to 10-12, dropping its fourth straight.

For six innings, the Terrapins held a lead built on early offense. They plated three runs in the third inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Ryan Costello, and added two more in the sixth on an RBI double by Sam Hill and a run-scoring error by Virginia shortstop Eric Becker to take a 6-5 advantage.

The Cavaliers, however, chipped away. They responded to Maryland’s three-run third with three of their own, keyed by RBI singles from AJ Gracia and Joe Tiroly. They tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh on Henry Harris’ RBI double and took the lead on Noah Murray’s run-scoring single.

The 7-6 score held into the fateful eighth. Maryland reliever Brayden Ryan had provided 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief with four strikeouts, but after he departed, the Terrapins’ bullpen collapsed.

Virginia’s rally in the eighth was methodical and relentless. It began with a single and a hit batter, then was fueled by a bases-loaded walk to Gracia that forced in a run. With the bases still loaded, Tiroly delivered the decisive blow, clearing them with a three-run double to left field off Maryland’s Chris Hastings, stretching the lead to 11-6.

Maryland changed pitchers, but the onslaught continued. Murray drove in Tiroly with his third hit of the night. After two walks reloaded the bases, a wild pitch allowed another run to score. Becker, who finished 3 for 5, then capped the inning with a two-run double down the left-field line, bringing the total for the frame to nine runs on five hits, three walks, a hit batter and a critical error.

The offensive explosion overshadowed strong relief work from Virginia’s Matt Augustin and Tyler Kapa. Augustin entered with two on in the sixth and stranded both runners, pitching 1 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts. Kapa followed with a perfect eighth, striking out two. Kevin Jaxel earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one earned run.

Tiroly’s two-hit, four-RBI night led the Cavaliers’ 19-hit attack. Gracia went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, while Becker and Murray each had three hits and two RBIs. For Maryland, which collected 12 hits, Costello went 2 for 4 with an RBI double.

The most important part of the game was Virginia’s nine-run eighth inning. It transformed a one-run game into a blowout, showcasing the depth and potency of the Cavaliers’ lineup while exposing the late-game vulnerabilities of a Maryland bullpen that could not stop the rally once it gained momentum. The inning featured a key bases-loaded walk, the back-breaking three-run double from Tiroly, and continued pressure that capitalized on every Maryland mistake.

Maryland travels to UCLA for a weekend series starting Friday. Virginia opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on the road at Boston College on Friday.