March 10, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland softball team battled back to beat Princeton 10-6 and then won a defensive duel to beat Kent State 2-1 in its two games in its home tournament at Robert E. Taylor Stadium Saturday.

10 Terrapins notched hits in the two wins, but Lexi Carroll went 3-5 with a home run and five RBI. The Terps (15-6) are now 6-0 at home this season.

Against the Golden Flash (9-10), senior Kendra Knight and Kent State's Emma Johnson battled in the circle for six scoreless innings. Knight allowed just three hits, one earned run and notched five strikeouts, including her 100th of this season.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Carroll drew a walk and Amanda McCann came on to pinch run. Candice Beards pinch hit and sent a home run over the center field wall off a 1-2 count to give Maryland a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Kent State's Kim Morgason led off with a homer to center to make it 2-1, but Knight would go on to strikeout the next two batters and Nikki Maier made a diving grab at second base for the final out.

In the first game, Princeton (1-6) took an early 4-0 lead when Alex Peyton hit a grand slam in the top of the first. They would add runs in the third and fourth innings.

The Terrapins chipped away at the Tigers' lead throughout the game before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the second, Sloane Van Meter drew a bases-loaded walk to score their first run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Carroll led off with a single, then McCann pinch ran for her. After advancing to third, Bree Hanafin singled to score one. Two batters later, Maier doubled down the left field line to score Hanafin and give the Terps their third run.

An inning later, Carroll singled with runners on first and second to make just a one-run Princeton lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kathy McLaughlin singled with runners on first and second to tie the game at six apiece. A batter later, McLaughlin went to steal second and when the catcher threw to second, Kelly Trimble, who was on third, took home. Shannon Bustillos then singled and Carroll followed that with a three-run shot over the centerfield wall for a 10-6 Terps win.

Carroll pitched the first 3.2 innings, then freshman Kaitlyn Schmeiser came in to relieve her. Schmeiser allowed just three hits, gave up no runs or walks and had three strikeouts in her 3.1 innings in the circle.

The Terps will face Kent State at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Senior Sloane Van Meter will be honored as the senior of the day. Admission and parking are free for all games. Princeton will take on Rhode Island at 11 a.m.

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