Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Coming off a big 5-1 victory over No. 22 Michigan on Thursday night, Maryland rallied late to tie Friday's game and send it to extra innings, but the Wolverines scored twice in the eighth inning to pick up the 5-3 victory at the Maryland Softball Stadium.
The teams will play the rubber game on Saturday at Noon as Maryland (22-17, 8-3 Big Ten) looks for its fourth series win in a row, which would be it's longest such streak since joining the conference in 2015.
Michigan (25-13, 5-6) scored the go-ahead run as Melina Livingston scored on a fielder's choice in the top of the eighth. They added one more run for the the two-score margin.
Maryland had a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Pinch hitter
Amelia Lech singled to right field to bring home
Taylor Okada and
Michaela Jones, who avoided the catcher's tag to even up the game.
Okada went 2-for-3 while
Megan Mikami had the Terps' other hit.
Courtney Wyche, started in the circle and tossed all eight innings, allowing nine hits while striking out seven.
Breaking Down The Action
• The teams played three scoreless innings as Wyche and matched zeroes with Lauren Derkowski and Annabelle Widra.
• Michigan jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Hannah Carson home run in the fourth inning.
• The Terps tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Jones' fly to right to bring home
Kamryn Davis
• Michigan regained the edge at 3-1 on a two-run double by Melina Livingston in the fifth.
• The Terps tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as pinch hitter Lech singled home Jones and Okada off reliever Meghan Beaubien to tie the game at 3-3.
• Michigan went ahead 4-3 as Taylor Bump's fielder's choice brought home Livingston, who doubled to lead off the inning.
Jackie's Number
• It was only fitting that as Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day with every player wearing No. 42 to honor the trailblazer who broke the color barrier 75 years ago today on April 15, 1947, that Wyche pitched on Friday night.
• Wyche wears No. 42 to honor Robinson as her grandfather was a civil rights leader and was close with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
• Wyche said: "I chose #42 because it is an honor for me to represent the man who made it possible for me to play this sport. Also, I want to create my own legacy through this number as I embark on my softball journey as a black pitcher. Jackie Robinson's story motivates me everytime I play to continue his legacy, battle through obstacles, always work hard, and to never give up. It stands for power, resilience, and fight and I am proud to wear #42 on my back!"
Up Next
• The series with the Wolverines wraps up on Saturday with a Noon match-up in College Park. The game will air on Big Ten+.
