BLACK & RED CLASSIC
March 2-4, 2018 || Ulmer Stadium
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland will resume non-conference tournament play March 2-4 with five games at the Black & Red Classic hosted by Louisville. In addition to playing host-Louisville, Maryland will have two games vs. IUPUI as well as Eastern Illinois and Miami (OH). Maryland's games vs. Louisville will be available to stream via ACC Network extra.
storylines
• Sophomore Brigette Nordberg has gotten off to a hot start at the plate in her second collegiate season, leading the team in batting average (.395) and slugging percentage (.605) through the first three weeks of the year. The Exton, Pa. native has already matched her hits total from last season in 14 games this year, and has cemented herself as Maryland's No. 3 hitter in the early goings of the year.
• Freshman Ryan Denhart has made an immediate impact for the Terrapins in her first collegiate season, holding a team-best 2.88 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched. Denhart threw two complete games at the Tiger Invite, including s three-hit effort in 7.0 innings to help the Terps clinch a 4-1 win over Delaware on February 17. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native starred for Los Alamitos High School her senior season, as she was named the 2017 Sunset League Pitcher of the Year & Press Telegram Player of the Year while garnering All-American honors.
• Senior Skylynne Ellazar wasted no time getting her 2018 season underway on February 9, launching a home run in her first at bat of the year against Cal Poly. It was Ellazar's first homer since her sophomore year, setting the table for an eight-hit weekend where she finished with .615 batting average and .737 OBP.
• Ellazar notched her second career four-hit game the following day against Cal Poly, hitting four singles to tie her career single-game high. - The Kahului, Hawaii native raked another homer the following weekend at the Tiger Invite, smashing a two-run bomb against Delaware for her second homer in five games.
• Freshman Hannah Eslick made her first career hit count, driving in the game-winning RBI against Middle Tennessee on February 11. It was just the second career at bat for the Glen Burnie, Md. native, who may see some time at third base and in pinch hit opportunities this season. She then connected on her first career home run on February 23 vs. No. 2/1 Florida, getting a solo shot off of the Gators' Kelly Barnhill, the reigning USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Year.
• For an in depth look at this year's team, umterps.com and head coach Julie Wrightpreviewed the upcoming 2018 campaign on February 7.
