Feb. 25, 2012

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Box Score vs. Wisconsin | Box Score vs. St. John's

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Maryland softball team used a four-run burst in the bottom of the fifth inning and strong pitching from senior Kendra Knight to beat Wisconsin 4-3 Saturday afternoon in the ESPN Citrus Classic at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

After a six-inning scoreless standoff against the Badgers (4-4), freshman Shannon Bustillos hit a two-out double to score the breakthrough runs for the Terps (9-2).

Vangie Galindo led off the bottom of the fifth with a single through the left side. Bree Hanafin followed to reach on a fielder's choice error and Galindo advanced. Nikki Maier then bunted to move them both over. Sloane Van Meter drew a two-out walk to load the bases. On a full count, Bustillos doubled and got to third on the play to clear the bases and give Maryland a 3-0 lead. Bria Taylor came in to pinch run for Bustillos and scored the Terps' fourth run on an error by the Badgers.

Senior Kendra Knight went the distance for the Terrapins, allowing Wisconsin four hits, just one earned run and notching eight strikeouts. She held the Badgers hitless for the second, third, fourth and sixth innings. Going into the top of the seventh, they had just two hits.

Wisconsin's Molly Spence led off with a hit, then two straight errors by the Terps allowed a run to score. Shannel Blackshear doubled to send in two more runs to make it 4-3. Knight notched another strikeout, then two Badgers walked to load the bases. Knight, the reigning ACC Pitcher of the Week, got Wisconsin's Whitney Massey looking on three straight pitches for the final out.

In their second game of the day, the Terrapins fell to St. John's, 11-3. Freshman Kaitlyn Schmeiser started in the circle and went 4.1 innings. She allowed seven hits and five earned runs, while notching two strikeouts.

Maryland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off of two Red Storm errors. St. John's tied it up in the bottom of the second with a two-run home run.

The Red Storm took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second with a leadoff double followed by an RBI single.

The Terrapins tied it at 3-all in the top of the third. Galindo led off with a bunt single, then Hanafin doubled to bring her in.

St. John's added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. After an RBI single for the Red Storm, junior Lexi Carroll came on to pitch for the Terps with one out. She gave up an RBI double for a 5-3 Red Storm lead. St. John's went on to score six runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Galindo went 3-for-5 at the plate between the two games and scored three runs.

Maryland will close the weekend with a 10 a.m. game vs. Marshall Sunday.

Next weekend, the Terrapins will head to No. 2 Alabama to play in the Alabama Invite. They will face the Crimson Tide, Massachusetts, and UAB.