March 2, 2012

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Maryland softball team dropped a pair of games Friday at the Easton Alabama Invite.

Maryland (10-4) fell to UMass 16-6 and No. 1 Alabama 19-1.

Against UMass, the Terps got off to a quick start, notching five runs including a Candice Beards' grand slam, in the first inning. After three consecutive walks, Nikki Maier was hit by a pitch to score Sara Acosta and give the Terps an early 1-0 lead. One batter later, Beards homered to center for a 5-0 Maryland cushion.

UMass wasted no time responding to the Terps' explosive first, recording five runs in the top of the second. With the game tied 5-5, the Minutewomen tacked on two additional scores in the third before Maryland answered in its portion of the fourth.

Trailing 7-5, Bree Hanafin singled and back-to-back walks to Beards and Kathy McLaughlin set up a bases loaded opportunity for Lexi Carroll, who was ultimately hit by a pitch to score Hanafin and shrink the UMass lead to one.

UMass tallied two runs in the sixth to push the lead to three before delivering its final blow with a six-run seventh inning.

Kaitlyn Schmeiser (2-3) took the loss for the Terps. Kendra Knight threw 4.4 innings of relief, striking out five.

Against the host Crimson Tide, Hanafin led the Terps with a hit, a stolen base and an RBI. Vangie Galindo also recorded a hit and Bria Taylor notched the Terps' lone run.

Knight picked up the loss on the mound and falls to 7-1 on the year.

Maryland returns to action Saturday with a match against UAB at noon.

Easton Alabama Invite Info