IOWA CITY, Iowa— In its inaugural Big Ten game, the Maryland softball team rallied from a 10-run deficit to defeat Iowa, 15-14. With the victory Friday evening, Maryland moves to 18-11 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten. The team tallied 15 runs off a season-high 19 hits.
An 11-run third put the Hawkeyes up 12-2, but the Terrapins staged a furious come from behind victory scoring four in the fourth and three in the fifth, sixth and seventh to complete the comeback. Erin Pronobis led Maryland from the batter's box hitting 3-for-3 and six RBIs.
Maryland jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second, after Kaitlyn Schmeiser singled to right, driving in Bridget Hawvermale. Iowa responded in the bottom of the frame after Megan Blank hit a solo shot to knot the game at one.
In the third, Maryland regained the 2-1 lead as Shannon Bustillos added an additional RBI, singling down the right field line to drive in Pronobis.
In the bottom of the frame, the Hawkeyes offense exploded for 11 runs on seven hits, taking a 12-2 lead.
Maryland responded in the top of the fourth, picking up four runs. After three straight singles from Lindsey Schmeiser, Hannah Dewey and Corey Schwartz, Erin Pronobis smacked a no-out grand slam to right field, her fifth home run of the season. The shot cut the Iowa lead in half, 12-6.
Iowa added an additional run off a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, Pronobis picked up another RBI, singling to left center, scoring L. Schmeiser. With two-outs Bustillos would sink a two-RBI single that scored Schwartz and Dewey. Maryland held Iowa in-check during the fifth as the Hawkeyes took a 13-9 lead into the sixth.
The Terps relied on the long ball in the sixth, as Schwartz blasted a two-run homer, her team-leading ninth of the season, while Pronobis mailed a solo-shot, her second of the game. Maryland would score three in the frame, cutting the Hawkeye lead to 13-12.
After holding Iowa scoreless in the sixth, the Terps took the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs off four hits. Kylie Datil singled up the middle to bring Emma Mires across home. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week L. Schmeiser knocked in the game-winning runs after a double to center plated Datil and K. Schmeiser.
Maryland quelled the walk-off attempt by the Hawkeyes, yielding a single run in the bottom of the seventh, ultimately coming out with a 15-14 win.
Dewey (4-5) picked up the win from the circle, while K. Schmeiser (3) earned the save.
The Terrapins return to the diamond tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to face Iowa in the middle game of the series.
-Maryland-
