April 25, 2012

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland softball team cruised past Delaware State Wednesday night, winning game one 15-0 in five innings and game two 10-5. Senior Kendra Knight pitched her second no-hitter in a week in game one, and senior Vangie Galindo broke Maryland's stolen base record with the 61st of her career.

Knight allowed one hit in 11.1 innings pitched on the day. She racked up 24 strikeouts with just four walks. Galindo had five hits in her seven at-bats.

The Terps (29-18, 5-7 ACC) outhit the Hornets (19-16-1) 29-7 and outscored them 25-5.

In the bottom of the first inning in game two, Galindo and Shannon Bustillos pulled off a double-steal play. Galindo's stolen base was her record-breaker. Last year, she broke the Terps' single season hits record with 78 and her .422 average on the season was the best in school history.

In game one, Bustillos led off the scoring with a double to center to score Kathy McLaughlin from second in the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Nikki Maier tripled to right to score two more, then Amanda McCann reached on a bunt single and scored Maier on the play. Melissa Mancuso doubled to right center to plate two more runs later in the inning to make it 6-0 Terps after one.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Terrapin offense exploded for nine runs. To lead it off, Mancuso hit her second double of the day, then McLaughlin drove her in with a single to right. Two batters later, Bustillos sent her seventh home run of the season over the left center wall for two more runs, then pinch hitter Kelly Trimble doubled to plate two more.

With two on, Sloane Van Meter singled for the Terps' 13th run of the game, then Mancuso hit her third double of the game for a 14-0 Maryland lead. Pinch hitter Bridget Hawvermale got her first hit of the year with a single to right and she drove in a run for a 15-0 Terps' advantage.

In game two, Maryland scored three in the bottom of the first. Bustillos sent in an RBI single to score one, then Candice Beards, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, reached on a fielder's choice and scored one more. Maier reached on a Hornets fielding error that score another, then Sara Acosta got on with an infield single to score Maier and make it 4-0 Terps.

In the next inning, Bustillos hit a two-RBI single up the middle to make it 6-0 Terps, then Beards hit an RBI single to right for one more. Freshman Liana Newton then tripled off the right field wall to score Beards and make it 8-0.

Galindo added the ninth Terps' run with an RBI single to right in the bottom of the third.

Junior Lexi Carroll came on to pitch in the top of the fourth. She allowed six hits, and the Hornets cut the Terps' lead to 9-5 with two outs. Knight came back on to close the inning and the rest of the game.

The Terps scored their 10th run in the bottom of the fourth off an RBI base hit by Acosta to right. The run scored on the throw.

Next, the Terps will hit the road to play three games at Boston College (20-22, 2-13) over the weekend. They will play two games Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. as well.