Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score vs. Illinois State | Box Score vs. Lipscomb

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ATHENS, Ga. - The Maryland softball team went 1-1 Saturday night against two 2010 NCAA Tournament teams in the Red & Black Showcase, which is hosted by No. 3 Georgia in Athens, Ga. The Terrapins (1-2) rallied to beat Lipscomb 4-3 and fell 5-0 to Illinois State.

Freshman Ashley Czechner made her starting pitching debut for the Terrapins against Lipscomb. She threw a complete game, notched nine strikeouts and allowed just one walk. She gave up five hits and two earned runs.

The Bison got on the board 1-0 in the top of the second. Mollie Mitchell singled to lead off the inning, then scored on Haley Elliott's single that resulted in a Terrapins' error.

Senior Marisha Branson started the Terps' rally in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff single that was followed by a base hit by Sloane Van Meter. Branson was then called out on a fielder's choice by Nikki Maier. Sophomore Samantha Mallory singled to right field to advance Maier and Van Meter to second and third with one out. Bison pitcher JJ Nelson walked the next three batters, Vangie Galindo, Kathy McLaughlin and Candice Beards as Maryland scored three runs.

After Whitney Kiihnl came on to pitch for Lipscomb, Galindo scored the Terps' fourth run on a wild pitch.

Against the Redbirds, the Terrapins fell down 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Illinois State's Kara Nelson scored after senior Kerry Hickey walked two and one runner reached on an error. With runners on second and third and no outs, Hickey struck out the next two batters and the third grounded out to minimize the damage.

In the bottom of the third inning with two outs and runners on second and third, the Redbirds' Laura Canopy singled to third base to score Abby Olsen from third. The next batter, Sara Bradley, hit a three-run home run to left field to make the score 5-0.

Hickey went 5.0 innings, gave up three hits and recorded six strikeouts. She walked six and gave up five runs. With Czechner on in the bottom of the sixth, the Redbirds went three-up three-down.

Beards and Van Meter both went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Red Birds. Sara Acosta and Hickey also had hits in the game. Lexi Carroll had a hit against Lipscomb.

The Terps will play two 2010 NCAA Tournament teams Sunday. They will play East Carolina at 11 a.m. and No. 3 Georgia, who went to last year's Final Four, at 1 p.m. Gametracker live stats will be available for both games.