EAST LANSING, Mich.—Mandy Gardner knocked in the go-ahead run, a RBI double, in the top of the seventh, as the Maryland softball team defeated Michigan State, 6-5. Kaitlyn Schmeiser contributed from the plate going 3-for-4 while driving in three runs and scoring once.

The Terps (27-25, 9-13 Big Ten) collected six runs off 11 hits in a game that saw three lead changes and two ties. The comeback victory marks the team's ninth seventh inning triumph this season. Six have been walk-off wins at home, while three have been on the road.

Maryland jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, tallying four runs in the top of the first. Corey Schwartz opened the game with a solo home run to left center. Erin Pronobis was then hit by a pitch and Shannon Bustillos walked. K. Schmeiser's first hit of the afternoon, a RBI double, drove two runs home, while Juli Strange put a RBI single to center field.

The Spartans rebounded in the bottom of the frame, tying the game at four off a Sarah Gutknecht grand slam.

In the third, Maryland broke the tie off a K. Schmeiser RBI double that scored Schwartz from second. The Terrapins preserved its 5-4 lead in the bottom of the third as solid defense and pitched prevented Michigan State from capitalizing on having the bases loaded.

Kassidy Kujawa knotted the game at five after blasting a solo home run to center field in the home fourth. Both teams went quietly in the fifth and sixth.

Heading into the final frame, K. Schmeiser led the inning off with a double to right. Skylynne Ellazar pinch ran, scoring from second as Gardner booted a double to left center.

K. Schmeiser shut the door on an attempted Michigan State comeback, allowing no runs and non hits in the home seventh. The senior additionally picked up the win (19-10) pitching two scoreless innings. Hannah Dewey, Brenna Nation and Jaymi Bautista-Geiger also saw time from the pitcher's circle.

Schwartz contributed offensively, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.

The two teams return to the diamond for the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

-Maryland-