DRAKE
3
0
MARYLAND
BOWLING GREEN
0
3
MARYLAND
Mardi Gras Invitational
Feb. 24, 2017 || Lamson Park
LAFAYETTE, La. – Maryland (2-9) split its opening games of the 2017 Mardi Gras Invitational Friday, first falling to Drake (10-5), 3-0 before rebounding with a 3-0 shutout over Bowling Green (6-6). The Terps will return to action tomorrow with games against Bradley (1:45 pm ET) and #16 Louisiana Lafayette (4:00 pm ET).
GAME 1 – BOX SCORE
Drake scored three runs on six hits, while getting a five-inning, 12-strikeout performance from pitcher Nicole Newman to take down the Terps 3-0 in game one of Friday's action. Maryland managed five hits, including two from senior Juli Strange, but could not get any across to drop to 1-9.
A two-run homer in the first inning set the tone for the game at Lamson Park, as Tasha Alexander went deep to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 edge. Senior Hannah Dewey was solid from that point on, keeping the Terps in the game with just two hits allowed over the next five innings.
Bulldog Ace Nicole Newman showed why she's the nation's strikeout leader, as the 2016 Missouri Valley Pitcher of the Year fanned 12 in five innings. But, the Terps started to get to her as the game wore on.
Maryland's best chance to score came in the fifth inning, after a hit by pitch got a runner on with two outs. A nicely placed bunt single from Destiney Henderson moved pinch runner Sami Main over to second, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Julie Strange put together a great at bat with the runners in scoring position, eventually knocking a hard hit single to third. The Bulldogs recovered on the play, catching Henderson at home to keep the Terps off the board.
Kailee Smith closed the game out for Drake, earning the save to push the Bulldogs to 10-5 on the year.
GAME 2 -- BOX SCORE
Senior Madison Martin starred for the Terps against Bowling Green, pitching a one-hit shutout to power Maryland to a 3-0 victory. Martin was on point down the stretch, retiring 14 straight batters to end the game and push Maryland to their first win of the weekend.
Maryland's bats came alive in the top of the first, turning four hits into three runs to start the game off vs. the Falcons. Freshman Anna Kufta knocked in the first run of the game, bringing home fellow freshman Amanda Brashear to put the Terps ahead 1-0. An error led to a second run crossing, before senior Jordan Aughinbaugh blasted an RBI single to make it 3-0 Terps.
Maryland ultimately won the game with defense, with Martin allowing just three base runners to the Falcons all game. Kufta and junior 3B Skylynne Ellazar were busy all game long on the left side of the infield, but handled every ball that came their way to keep BGSU off the base paths.
The Terps totaled 12 total hits in the game, with a game-high three coming from Brashear.
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