April 27, 2011

LIKE! Maryland Athletics on Facebook

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

Tweet

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland softball team took both games in a midweek doubleheader against Delaware State Wednesday night at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. The Terps (34-14) beat the Hornets (25-15) 13-0 in five innings in the first game and 3-1 in the second.

Senior Marisha Branson went 4-for-6 on the night with a two-run home run in the second game. Junior Bree Hanafin hit her first career grand slam in the first game.

Senior Kerry Hickey, the current ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week, started in the circle in the first game for the Terrapins. She pitched 5.0 innings and allowed the Hornets just two hits and tallied 12 strikeouts.

The Terps jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Branson singled to left to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Hickey got on by a Hornets' error. Senior Lauren Ghent came on to pinch run for Hickey and stole second. Junior Kathy McLaughlin doubled to left center to score both runs.

Freshman Candice Beards brought in another run with a fielder's choice. The next three runs came on a base hit by Sara Acosta, a fielder's choice by Vangie Galindo and a ground out by Hanafin. As the Terrapins hit through the order in the inning, Branson brought in the seventh run with a single up the middle.

The Terps tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Lexi Carroll led off with a single. Sophomore Courtney Kane came on to pinch run and advanced to third when Nikki Maier and Amanda McCann drew back-to-back walks. Acosta brought in the first run of the inning with a base hit to right and Galindo brought another in with another fielder's choice. Hanafin sent her grand slam over the centerfield wall to finalize the score at 13-0.

Freshman Ashley Czechner started in the circle for Maryland in the second game. She went 6.1 innings with six hits and one earned run. She picked up eight strikeouts along the way. Hickey came on in the top of the seventh with one out to finish the game off.

Czechner put the Terps on the board first in game two. She grounded out to the Hornets' shortstop but brought in a run for Maryland to go up 1-0.

Branson scored the Terrapins' final two runs in the bottom of the third when Branson homered over the centerfield wall.

The Hornets got on the board with an RBI double by Janelle Lukens in the top of the sixth inning.

With the two wins, the Terrapins tied their 2010 win total. They went 34-24 last season.

Maryland will head to Blacksburg, Va. this weekend for a three-game series at Virginia Tech. The Terps and the Hokies will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available.