COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland softball defeated No. 24 Northwestern in a walk-off finish to hand the Wildcats just their second loss of the season in game one of their doubleheader, 4-3. Northwestern answered back in game two, defeating the Terps 10-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- GAME 1
- Pitcher Courtney Wyche was off to a hot start in the first frame, pitching two strikeouts on three batters
- Northwestern was first on the board after a double to left field brought a runner on third back home to put the Wildcats up 1-0 in the top of the third
- Despite a hit from senior JoJo McRae in the bottom, Maryland wasn't able to bring her back aroundÂ
- Wyche notched her third strikeout of the day in the top of the fourth, keeping the defense alive for the Terps as both teams went scoreless
- The tides turned in the bottom of the fifth for Maryland, with hits from Taylor Liguori, McRae, and Jaeda McFarland. After a fielders choice sent Haley Ellefson to first, McRae was able to make it home in time to tie things up 1-1. Despite Katie Dusting grounding out to second, the Terps were able to advance McFarland and take the lead 2-0
- Northwestern was quick to answer back in the top of the following frame, scoring two runs on two hits to put them back up 3-2 after a scoreless offensive showing from Maryland
- In the bottom of the seventh, McFarland homered a ball over the fence at center field to tie things back up 3-3, recording the first of her career
- Okada followed with a triple to right field, and Ellefson ended things for Northwestern with a single to left field bringing Okada home, resulting in the Terps edging the Wildcats 4-3
- Ellefson recorded her first win of the season, and Northwestern pitcher Danielle Williams received her first loss (9-1)
- GAME 2
- Northwestern was off and running in the first frame, recording a homer from Rudd to get them on the board 1-0
- The Wildcats scored an additional five runs on seven hits including two homers, to make things 6-0 heading into the bottom of the second
- Maryland made three runs on no hits in the bottom half of the second to make things 6-3
- Northwestern recorded an additional homer from Lewis, and another three runs on three hits put the Wildcats up 10-3, where they remained for the rest of the gameÂ
UP NEXT:
Maryland will face Northwestern for the series finale on Sunday, April 4 at 1:00 PM in the Maryland Softball StadiumÂ