FORT COLLINS, CO – The top-seeded Terps took down Cal State Northridge (CSUN), 8-0, in the first round of the National Invitational Softball Championship. This was Maryland's first national postseason appearance since playing in the NCAA Tournament in 2012. With their victory, the Terps will take on BYU in the Quarterfinals of the NISC on Friday at 2 p.m. EST/Noon MT.

Maryland moved to 37-17 on the season, while the CSUN Matadors of the Big West Conference fell to 28-23.

Courtney Wyche pitched six lights out innings in the circle, spinning seven strikeouts and stranding four Matador runners, along with allowing just one walk. The senior ace controlled the early part of the contest in particular, only yielding two hits across the first four innings. 

This was also Maryland's 15th team shutout and Wyche's sixth shutout of the year. 

The Terps wasted no time on offense, scoring five runs in the first three innings, including a three-run bottom of the first. Maryland also used the longball to their advantage, with a home run each by Sammi Woods, Amelia Lech, and Megan Mikami, who's sixth inning shot ended the game. 

Lech's 16th home run moves her to second all-time in single-season homers in Maryland history. Only Amber Jackson, who had 24 in 2007, clubbed more. Her 47 RBIs are the most by a Terp since Lindsey Schmeiser set the school record with 59 in 2013. The 47 are tied for the fourth-most in a season in school history. 

The leadoff batter Mikami led the way on offense, finishing 2-3 with a walk, two hits, one stolen base, two RBIs, and two runs scored, along with her two-run homer. Jaeda McFarland and Trinity Schlotterbeck also both had hits and RBIs in this game. 

Breaking Down The Action

• A Wyche-led Maryland defense made quick work of the Matadors early, completing a one-two-three top of the first.
• Mikami wasted no time putting the Terps up in the bottom of the first stanza, scoring from second thanks to an RBI hit by McFarland. 
• Schlotterbeck added two more runs in the first with a long RBI double to right field, driving in McFarland and Greico. 
• Woods launched a solo home run to deep center field in the second, upping the score to 4-0 Terps.  
• CSUN threatened in the top of the third with two runners on base, but the Terps defense fought back to close out the inning with a double play. 
• With the bases loaded in the third, Michaela Jones hit into a fielder's choice to score Kamryn Davis. 
• Lech smashed a home run shot to deep right field in the bottom of the fifth, extending Maryland's advantage to 6-0. 
• Mikami had a moonshot of her own in the bottom of the sixth, driving in Woods to record two more runs for the Terps. 

Numbers To Know 

• 1: Sammi Woods slapped the first home run of her college career in this game. 
• 16: Lech's 16 home runs are the second-most in Maryland history, behind the record of 24 set by Amber Jackson in 2007. 
• 26: Mikami co-leads the Big Ten with 26 stolen bases on the season. 
• 42: Schlotterbeck has recorded 42 RBIs on the season, second on the. 
• 47: Lech now has 47 RBI, which is tied for fourth-most in a season in Maryland history. The most since Lindsey Schmeiser set the school record with 59 in 2013. 
• 186: Number of strikeouts by the pitcher Wyche, a top-40 mark in the nation and 10th-most in a season in Maryland history. . 

Up Next

• Maryland takes on BYU in the Quarterfinals of the NISC on Friday at 2 p.m. EST/Noon MT. This game will be streamed live on Triple Crown Sports' YouTube channel.