April 19, 2011

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland softball team took two wins from Binghamton Tuesday night at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. The Terrapins (30-13, 6-4 ACC) jumped out to an early lead to win the first game 5-0, then rallied behind sophomore Nikki Maier's walk-off base hit to win the second 3-2 in eight innings.

Tied at two in the bottom of the eighth, senior Marisha Branson led off with a double off of the left field wall. Two batters later, Maier looped a base hit into center to score Branson for the game-winning run. The Terrapins are now 6-0 in extra innings this season.

Junior Vangie Galindo had five hits in her eight at-bats on the night, while Kathy McLaughlin and Branson each had three. All three of Branson's hits were doubles.

In game one, the Terps jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Galindo singled with one out to jumpstart the Terrapins' run. Bree Hanafin followed with a walk and they both advanced when Branson reached on an error. Kerry Hickey followed with a walk to score a run and a 1-0 Maryland lead.

Two batters later with the bases still loaded, Maier was hit by a pitch to score another run. McLaughlin singled to score the third Terps' run. Lauren Ghent reached on another error that brought in the final two runs.

Hickey started the first game in the circle for the Terrapins. She allowed just three hits in her 7.0 innings. She notched ten strikeouts as well.

In game two, freshman Ashley Czechner started in the circle for Maryland. Binghamton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first after a single and a double put runners on first and third with one out. The Bearcats' Deannie Plemon singled down the right field line to bring in the two runs.

The Terrapins cut Binghamton's lead in half after Galindo singled, then scored off of a double by Branson. They tied it up in the bottom of the fifth inning when Sara Acosta and Galindo hit back-to-back doubles to score a run.

In the top of the sixth, Binghamton's Jessica Phillips led off with a double, but Czechner and the Terps notched three straight outs to end the inning.

Kendra Knight came on to pitch in the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth, she walked the Bearcats' leadoff batter. She got the next three Bearcats out on strikes, all on nine straight pitches.

Knight finished her 2.0 innings of work with four strikeouts and one hit, while Czechner finished her 6.0 innings with four hits and five strikeouts.

The Terrapins will head to Florida State (25-21, 7-7 ACC) this weekend for a three-game series in Tallahassee, Fla. The Terps and the Seminoles will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday and a single game at noon Sunday.