HOUSTON – The Terps split their matchups today at the Houston Classic, beating Louisiana-Monroe 8-0 but falling in the rematch against Houston, 4-12. The Terps beat Louisiana-Monroe by run-rule, their first run-rule victory since April 10, 2016 when Maryland beat the Michigan State Spartans 10-2 in six innings.
Game 1 – Box Score
Sami Main earned the first shutout of her career, tossing a one-hitter and staying in the circle for the entirety of the game for the Terps.
Main and the Warhawk pitcher kept the game scoreless through two innings, but the Terps started the scoring in the top of the third and didn't let up through the rest of the game. Taylor Okada hit a lead-off double, then consecutives walks of Kufta and Kerr loaded the bases with no outs on the board. Gracie Voulgaris drove in the first two runs of the game, and after three, the Terps led 2-0.
Louisiana-Monroe got their lone hit of the game in the bottom of the third, singling right up the middle. Though the Warhawk runner advanced to scoring position by stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball, she was stranded on base after one of Main's four strikeouts of the day.
Maryland tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, scoring McRae to extend the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Main put down three batters in order, and set up the Terps for a fifth-inning explosion of runs.
Taylor Wilson led off, singling up the middle, Gracie Voulgaris walked, and Bailey Boyd singled to load the bases. Shelby Younkin drove in the first run of the inning, giving Maryland the 4-0 lead. Next, Okada hit a 2-RBI single to further extend the lead, and Anna Kufta drove in two more. Through the middle of the fifth, the Terps had extended the lead to 8-0, forcing the Warhawks to get on the board or lose by run-rule.
But much like the rest of the game, Louisiana-Monroe was unable to get anything going off Sami Main as she retired three straight batters to end the game and secure the shutout victory.
Game 2 – Box Score
The Terps looked to sweep 2018 NCAA Regional participant Houston in the Houston Classic coming off a 4-2 victory on Friday, but were unable to keep their four-game win streak going after letting up a flurry of runs in the bottom of the fifth which sealed the deal for the Cougars.
Much like the first game against tournament-host Houston, the Cougars got on the board first with a two-run homer off Kiana Carr in her first start in the circle for the Terrapins.
Not to be outdone, Anna Kufta hit a two-run home run of her own – her second of the season – to tie the score 2-2. And in the next at-bat, Sammie Stefan launched a solo shot out of the park to give the Terps the 3-2 lead. It was also her second home run of the season.
Houston answered in the bottom of the third, sending in a runner on an RBI-single and knotting the score 3-3. Despite forcing a pitching change in the top of the fourth, Maryland was unable to pull ahead and put the Cougars back on offense in the bottom of the fourth. Houston would then regain the 4-3 lead on a RBI sac fly.
The Terps, who continued to play with an enormous amount of heart and determination, battled back and tied the score once again, this time 4-4 on a Gracie Voulgaris single.
However, in the bottom of the fifth, the wear on the Maryland pitchers started to show as Galvan, Jarecke, and Carr cycled in the circle. The Cougars would go on to score eight runs on seven hits in the inning and win the game via run-rule.
Carr was credited with the loss after allowing eight hits and four runs in 3.2 innings pitched. The Terps play Nevada Sunday at 10 a.m. ET and look to finish the Houston Classic 4-1.
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