COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland used a seven-run third inning to take control of Game 1 of its doubleheader with Rutgers on the way to a 10-7 victory on Tuesday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Stadium. The Terps improved to 23-18 and 9-4 in the Big Ten, moving into sole possession of fourth place in the conference.
Haley Ellefson launched a two-run home run to key that third inning as 11 Terps came to the plate in the inning. Ellefson was 2-for-4 with those two RBIs.
Jaeda McFarland went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and RBI double and two stolen bases, including a steal of home.
Taylor Okada also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Michaela Jones went 2-for-2 as Maryland had 11 hits in the game.
Maryland had a season-high nine stolen bases including three by
Kiley Goff and two each by McFarland and
Megan Mikami.
In the circle,
Trinity Schlotterbeck started and threw five innings, allowing only two earned runs. Ellefson came on in relief to finish the game and earn her second save.
Breaking Down The Action
• Rutgers took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer by Gabrielle Callaway in the top of the third inning.
• Maryland opened the floodgates in the bottom of the third inning. Goff scored the Terps' first run on an error to even the game at 1-1. Then the Terps took the lead as Mikami scored on a fielder's choice. McFarland stole home for another run. Okada's singled to left center to bring home
Kamryn Davis. The set the stage for Ellefson who blasted a two-run shot to score Okada.
• The Scarlet Knights battled back with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. They scored on a wild pitch, along with RBI singles by Kobie Hura and Payton Lincavage, then a run scored on a bases loaded hit by pitcher to make the scored 7-5, Maryland.
• McFarland doubled in Goff in the sixth and then McFarland scored on a singled by
Mackense Greico to make it 9-5. Then Greico scored on a single by Okada for the Terps' final run.
• Rutgers scored two more runs in the top of the seventh for the final of 10-7.
By The Numbers
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3: Ellefson hit her third home run of the season.
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3: Goff's three stolen bases as a season high and equal the most by a Terp in a game this season (Mikami, Ellefson and
Campbell Kline all stole three in a game this season).
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5: Ellefson had her fifth two-hit game of the season.
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8: Jones had her eighth multi-hit game of the season.
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9: The Terps stole a season-high nine bases in the game,
• 9: Not including last season, which was played entirely inside the Big Ten Conference, at 9-4, Maryland has equaled its most conference wins since 2015, when the Terps went 9-14 in the Big Ten. That stands the Terps' most conference wins (excluding last year's 19-25 mark) since joining the Big Ten in 2015.
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13: Okada had her 13th multi-hit game of the season.
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23: With 23 wins on the season, Maryland has its most wins since going 27-27 in 2015.
Up Next
• Maryland faces Rutgers in Game 2 of the doubleheader this afternoon.
