COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- Lindsey Schmeiser tallied a hit in each game extending her hit streak to thirteen, as the Maryland softball team dropped a twin bill to Ohio State on Sunday. The Terps fell 18-6 in the matinee, while faltering 9-5 in eight innings in the night cap.
With the two blemishes, Maryland moves to 21-15 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten play.
“[Lindsey Schmeiser] in the lead off position just sets a really good tone for our team. She is very consistent and fights every time she is out on the field,” Head coach Courtney Scott Deifel said about L. Schmeiser's hit streak.
The Terrapins have a four day break until they travel to Champaign, Illi. to face the Fighting Illini for a three game series.
Game One
Maryland fell behind early, as Maddy McIntyre opened the scoring in the first with a two-run home run for the Buckeyes. In the bottom of the frame the Terps responded, as Shannon Bustillos took the first pitch she saw for a ride over the center-field fence, scoring Erin Pronobis and Corey Schwartz, putting Maryland up 3-2.
Ohio State pulled away in the second, plating a six spot in the frame. After a two-RBI single from Cammi Prantl, a Maryland error extended the inning, leading to four unearned runs.
Maryland pushed across a run in the bottom of the third off a Kaitlyn Schmeiser infield single, scoring Schwartz.
In the fourth, Ohio State busted the game open with six runs in the inning. With the bases juiced, Caitlin Conrad popped a grand slam for the Buckeyes, taking a 14-4 lead in to the bottom of the fourth.
Maryland attempted the comeback with two runs of its own, after L. Schmeiser and Hannah Dewey both singled to reach base. Schwartz hit an RBI single to drive in one run as Bustillos doubled the additional run in as the ensuing batter.
OSU quelled the Maryland comeback attempt, added four in the fifth to take the game 18-6, the first run-rule loss for the Terps of the season.
Hannah Dewey (4-7) took the loss from the mound as Brenna Nation also saw time at pitcher.
Game Two
L. Schmeiser led off the game with a double, while Dewey followed up the hit with a walk. Pronobis put the Terps on the board first, launching a three-run home run, her eighth of the season, clearing the bases for an early 3-0 lead.
K. Schmeiser held the Buckeyes hitless until the fourth, when Prantl singled up the middle. McIntyre followed with a single of her own, driving Prantl home for the score.
Maryland and the Buckeyes would trade scoreless innings leading into the top of the seventh, Terps up 3-1. With two-outs and one on, Taylor Watkins hit a game-tying home run, knotting the game at three.
Looking for the walk-off, the Terrapins put runners on second and third in the bottom of the frame, but could not convert.
In the eighth, the Ohio State bats came alive, racking six runs off six hits. Prantl doubled to drive in a run, as McIntyre belted a three-run shot to center. Erika Lonard followed up with a two-run blast of her own, to take a 9-3 lead.
The Terps could not cash in on last licks, scoring only two runs in the bottom of the eighth, falling to OSU 9-5.
K. Schmeiser (15-6) took the loss, pitching seven innings and fanning seven. Jaymi Bautista-Geiger saw time from the circle as well.
Notes: L. Schmeiser extended her hit streak to 13 games. The streak dates back to the March 8 game vs. Stony Brook… L. Schmeiser hit her thirteenth double of the season, tying for eighth on the all-time single-season doubles record… Schwartz scored twice today, bringing her season total to 36. That ties for thirteenth all-time in single-season scoring for Maryland… Schwartz's HR in Friday's game marked her eleventh of the season. The ties for third on the all-time single-season home run charts for Maryland… Dewey walked three times, bringing her season total to 40. She moves into third all-time for single-season walks at Maryland… K. Schmeiser struck out seven bringing her season total to 124 and her career total to 397, which places her in sole possession of sixth all-time in program history.
-Maryland-
