Box Score UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Kristina Dillard led the Terrapins, going 3-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, but Maryland dropped the series opener to Penn State, 9-6.
The Terps jumped on top in the first. Lindsey Schmeiser led off with a single, Sarah Calta and Skylynne Ellazar put through sacrifice bunts, with Calta reaching on an error. Then, Hannah Dewey lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Schmeiser.
Penn State copied Maryland's script in the second; using a single, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly to even the game at one.
After the Terrapins went down in order in the third, Penn State took a 5-1 lead off three hits and one Maryland two-out error.
Maryland continuously fought back all night, beginning in the fourth. Kristina Dillard smashed her first double, and then Kylie Datil lined a single, causing a Nittany Lion error to score Dillard.
Down 5-2, Madison Martin came into the game for Maryland in the circle, replacing Brenna Nation. Penn State scored four more off three home runs to take a 9-2 lead.
Dillard came through again in the fifth. With bases loaded and two outs after walks by Schmeiser and Ellazar, and a Calta single; Dillard blasted one to the left center fence to clear the bases. Maryland cut the deficit to four, 9-5.
Nation reentered the game for Maryland and held Penn State in check for the final two frames. Overall, the redshirt junior hurled 5.2 innings and allowed four earned runs.
Maryland threatened again in the sixth. Destiney Henderson led off with a slap single. Then, Schmeiser drew her second walk of the night. With two outs, Calta came through with a single up the middle to make it a three run game. Penn State's Macy Jones, who was 4-4 on the night and fantastic in left field, made a diving catch on an Ellazar fly to rob Maryland of more deficit-cutting runs.
Dillard knocked her third hit of the game in the seventh, but Maryland couldn't score her and fell 9-6.
Kylie Datil and Sarah Calta each had two hits in the contest.
The Terrapins will look to even the series tomorrow in the middle game of the set at 4:00 p.m.
