May 2, 2007
Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, MD. -
Maryland fell for the first time in its last 16 non-conference games, dropping a pair of games to Penn State Wednesday evening. The Nittany Lions won the opener 6-0 and took the second game 4-3. Maryland fell to 30-23 on the season, while Penn State improved to 26-20 with the wins.
Four Terps recorded hits in game one, which was broadcast on CSTV, but Maryland could not stay with the Lions, who had two home runs by Danielle Kinley and Shana Madura.
Kinley's homer scored two runs in the top of the first to give Penn State an early lead, and Madura extended the lead to 4-0 with a two-run bomb in the fifth inning.
Meredith Nelles took both the losses for the Terps, and fell to 17-12 on the year. Ashley Esparza earned the win in game one for the Nittany Lions, and Jenn Reynolds improved to 13-8 with the game two victory.
Maryland finished with nine hits on the day, but the Terps couldn't convert those hits into runs.
Amber Jackson doubled to get into scoring position in the third inning, but the senior was caught stealing at home in a close call. Jackson slid head first and on the instant replay, appeared to get her hand around the catcher to touch home plate before Hollee Haines tagged her out. Jackson leads the ACC with 37 stolen bases on the season.
The Terrapins made the second game a more competitive affair, as Jennifer Wellborn and Jackson each recorded home runs.
Wellborn hit her ninth homer of the year, second most on the team, to put the Terps up 1-0 after two innings, but Penn State tied the game in the fourth.
Jackson gave the lead back to Maryland with a two-RBI homer in the fifth inning, which scored Alex Schultz from first base. The Terps had a 3-1 lead and hopes of earning a split with the Lions. For Jackson it was her 21st home run of the season, third best in the nation.
A double by Haines rallied the Nittany Lions in the sixth inning, however, scoring two runs to even the score at three, and a single by Kayce Zielinski scored Haines to put the Lions ahead for good.
