March 9, 2011
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Weekly Release 
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland softball team split a doubleheader with East Carolina Wednesday night in its home opener at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. The Terps (9-8) fell 3-2 in the first game, but took an early lead in the second game 4-2.
Junior Vangie Galindo went 4-for-7 on the night, while senior Marisha Branson hit a two-run homer in the second game and finished with three RBI. Freshman Amanda McCann went 2-for-2 in the second game. Junior Bree Hanafin and sophomore Sara Acosta each had two hits.
In the circle, junior Kerry Hickey started the first game and ended with 14 strikeouts in her 7.0 innings. She allowed just one earned run. Freshman Ashley Czechner threw 6.2 innings in game two with four strikeouts, two runs, and six hits.
With no score in the top of the fifth of game one, the Pirates (17-6) had the bases loaded with one out. Hickey struck out Suzanne Riggs looking and Jordan Lewis swinging to get out of the inning.
East Carolina scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Sissy Jimenez hit a double to right field and a few batters later, Mahrisch Medina singled down the right field line to score the first run.
The Terrapins answered in the bottom of the sixth, when Galindo led off with a single. Hanafin reached on a bunt, and advanced to second while Galindo scored on a Pirates' error. With Hanafin on third, Branson doubled to left to give Maryland a 2-1 lead going into the seventh.
Rebecca Lee started the top of the seventh off with a triple to left field. Lewis singled to score Lee for the tie. With the bases loaded, Lewis scored on a wild pitch.
In the second game, Maryland took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Freshman Candice Beards walked to lead off, then junior Kathy McLaughlin singled to left center. Samantha Mallory advanced them both with a bunt and McCann brought in Beards with a single. McLaughlin stole home on a double-steal play.
Branson hit her home run with two outs in the bottom of the third and Hanafin on second to make the score 4-0.
The Pirates got on the board in the top of the sixth when Jill Jelnick hit a double, then Lee doubled to score her.
With runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, Jelnick singled to score a run. With two outs and the bases loaded, Hickey came on and earned the save.
The Terps head to Florida this weekend for the USF Under Armour Showcase in Tampa. The Terrapins will play No. 16 Nebraska Friday at 3 p.m., then Colorado State at 8 p.m. All live stats and media links will be posted on umterps.com.
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