March 9, 2007

Rhode Island Box Score

Louisville Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland exploded out of the gates in its 2007 home opener Friday, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 7-2 victory over Rhode Island on the opening day of the Maryland Invitational. The Terps dropped their second game of the day, however, falling to Louisville 2-1, after the Cardinals scored two late runs to steal the game. Maryland now stands at 8-9 on the year.

Looking to baptize the newly christened Robert E. Taylor Stadium with a win, the Terps blew away the Rams in game one with powerful hitting and a dominating performance from Meredith Nelles, who pitched her first complete game of the year, to improved to 5-3.

Jenny Belak, batting second, singled towards third base and stole second to start things off for the Terps. After a Keri Lounge single, Lindsay Klein drove in both runners with a single into left field. She advanced to second on the throw to home plate.

After Klein advanced to third on a wild pitch, Lindsey Ubrun also hit a single into left field, and Klein roared home for the Terps' third run.

Following a second Terrapin out, freshman Alex Schultz hit her second collegiate home run; this one over the left field wall. It scored two more runs to give the Terps a 5-0 lead which they would not relinquish.

Nelles showed excellent control on her pitches, keeping the Rhode Island batters in check throughout the game. Often working the outside corner with great success, she frustrated the Rams, who did not record a hit until Alyssa Martino hit a hard single into the middle of the Terps' defense in the fourth inning.

The Rams would score two runs late in the seventh inning to prevent a shutout, but catcher Jennifer Wellborn picked off Stefani Poedubicky at third base to end any hope of a Rhode Island rally.

Amber Jackson seemingly hit her seventh home run of the year in the fourth inning, but she passed Abbey Welch on the bases in a strange play that resulted in first base umpire Mark Bregman calling Jackson out near second base. Welch who was on first, scored on the play, and Jackson was credited with an RBI single, but returned to the dugout.

The Terps held URI to only four hits and two runs, after the Rams had scored 14 runs in their first game of the day versus Central Connecticut.

Louisville scores two late runs to down Terps 2-1

Maryland led Louisville 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but could not quite close the door on the Cardinals, who eked out two wins to steal the game late from the Terps.

Louisville, who began the season ranked 20th in the NFCA poll, improved to 8-8 with their second win on the day at the Maryland Invitational.

Alex Schultz, on the heels of her earlier home run against Rhode Island, recorded the Terps' first hit against Louisville, a single just past the shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Jennifer Wellborn moved Schultz to second, and the freshman centerfielder advanced to third when Abbey Welch hit the ball towards first and was tagged out by the first baseman.

Amber Jackson nearly ripped another homer, but the ball bounced off the wall in left field, and she had to settle for an RBI double, which brought Schultz home for the Terps' only run. It was Jackson's 18th RBI on the season.

Stacey Jennings kept the Louisville bats silent for much of the game, but things began to unravel in the sixth inning.

After Cardinal second baseman Candi Hicks walked, Courtney Moore hit the ball to Lindsey Ubrun who made the throw to second to retire the lead runner. Keri Lounge made the catch, but the ball slipped out of her glove as she turned to tag Hicks, leaving runners on first and second with no outs.

Catcher Mellissa Roth walked to load the bases, and Meredith Nelles came in to replace Jennings.

Nelles nearly made the brilliant save, as she earned outs against her first two batters. Brittany York flew out to left field and Kassie Stanfill left the plate after staring down her third strike.

Nelles had Brooke McCrain down 0-2, before the sophomore rallied in the count and hit a single into center field to bring Hicks and Moore home for the 2-1 lead and eventual Cardinal win.

Lindsey Ubrun hit a line out to third baseman Audrey Rendon at the top of the seventh, and Sarde Stewart and Schultz struck out to end the Terrapins' comeback bid.

Tomorrow Maryland takes on Princeton at 1 p.m. and Central Connecticut at 5 p.m. in the second day of the Maryland Invitational. Catch the Central Connecticut game on wmucsports.com.

In other action at the Maryland Invitational, Friday, Princeton defeated Central Connecticut 3-1, Rhode Island defeated Central Connecticut 14-5, and Louisville defeated Princeton 5-0.

The three-day tournament concludes Sunday with three games as the five teams will be seeded based on performance from Friday and Saturday. Games begin at 9 a.m.