COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Lindsey Schmeiser picked up two doubles on Friday, extending her hit streak to 17 games, as the Maryland softball team dropped the series opener against Illinois, 7-3. The Illini went yard three times, accounting for four runs en route to the victory.
L. Schmeiser led the Terps (23-17, 5-5 Big Ten) from the plate, smacking two extra-base hits, while Hannah Dewey recorded two hits of her own and one RBI.
After a scoreless first, Illinois got on the board first, off a solo-shot from Carly Thomas to take a 1-0 lead.
The teams continued to trade scoreless frames until the top of the fifth, when Allie Bauch launched a home run to right field. The next Illini batter, Alyssa Gunther, picked up a stand-up triple. Gunther crossed home as the ensuing batter, Ruby Rivera, hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Illinois lead to 3-0.
In the home fifth, Maryland cashing in a run of its own after two straight doubles by L. Schmeiser and Dewey crossed L. Schmeiser. An Erin Pronobis singled and advanced on the throw to give the Terps second and third with one out, but the team could not convert.
The two Illinois leadoff batters reached base in the sixth, as one run crossed home an error by the pitcher. An additional unearned Illinois run scored, extending the team's lead to 5-1.
An error in the bottom of the sixth brought a Maryland run across, as the Illini added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Jess Perkins led off the inning with a single as Nicole Evans mailed a two-run home run to center, opening up a 7-2 Illinois lead.
The Terrapins added a run in the bottom of the seventh, ultimately falling, 7-3. Kaitlyn Schmeiser (17-7) picked up the loss for the Terps, fanning three over five innings. Dewey also saw time from the pitcher's circle.
Maryland and Illinois are back on the diamond for the middle game of the series, Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The game marks the Terrapin's annual Military Appreciation Day. The first 25 fans in attendance to show a military i.d. will receive a free Maryland softball t-shirt.
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