ORLANDO, Fla.— Lindsey Schmeiser hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, to help propel the Maryland softball team to a 4-3 extra-inning victory over Fordham today. With the team's fifth straight victory, the Terps move to 11-5 on the season and face-off with Mississippi State in the second game of a morning-afternoon double header.
The Rams struck first, putting across a run in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Erin Pronobis responded, launching her team-leading third home run of the season to knot the game at one in the fourth.
Three straight singles in the bottom of the fourth with no outs loaded the bases for Fordham, but solid defense by the Terps outfield held the Rams scoreless.
Fordham took a 2-1 lead into the final half-frame, but an error in the bottom of the seventh scored Bridget Hawvermale to tie the game.
In extra innings, a wild pitch brought a Fordham run in the top of the eighth, but the Terps did not quit. In the bottom of the eighth, a bases-loaded RBI walk from Shannon Bustillos tied the ball game at three.
Hannah Dewey made a shoe-string catch in center, catching the Fordam runner off-base for an unassisted double play in the top of the ninth. Kyile Datil advanced to third on a pass ball, as Lindsey Schmeiser hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the winning run.
Kaitlyn Schmeiser picked up the victory from the mound, pitching six and two thirds innings allowing one earned run, and striking out two.
-Maryland-