FORT COLLINS, CO – Maryland (38-18) advanced to the semifinals of the Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship with a 7-4 comeback win over San Jose State (26-29) on Friday afternoon in Fort Collins, Colorado. The win was Maryland's 38th of the season as they advance to play Iowa in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Trailing 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Maryland fought back and responded in a massive way, putting up a four-spot to take a 7-4 lead. It began with Taylor Liguori, who reached on an error, allowing Kamryn Davis to score to tie the game.
Then, Maryland manufactured its next three runs with the bases loaded and two outs. Megan Mikami continued the rally with an infield RBI single, one of two in the inning, as the Terps led 5-4. Jaeda McFarland added on with the second infield RBI single of the inning and then Sammi Lewis finished the inning off with an RBI hit by pitch for a 7-4 lead.
Maryland starter
Courtney Wyche was spectacular in the win for Maryland, coming up just one out short of a complete game victory as she tossed 6.2 innings in the circle, striking out five while walking one and giving up six hits.
Keira Bucher came in and recorded the save, her 12th of the year, matching Northwestern's Danielle Williams for the Big Ten single-season record.
Heading into the top of the fourth inning, Friday afternoon's game was scoreless, but Maryland came alive with three runs in the fourth, starting with smart base-running. The Terps executed a double steal to perfection between Sydney Lewis and Trinity Schlotterbeck.
Lewis scored at home while Schlotterbeck stole second, scoring one better later on an RBI single from Michaela Jones. Madison Runyan followed with an RBI single for a 3-0 Terps lead.
San Jose State responded back in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning after loading the bases on Maryland starter Courtney Wyche. With one out, Alyssa Graham, already with a hit on the day, cleared the bases with a three-run double to tie things up at 3-3. Ashley Rico gave the Spartans a 4-3 lead later in the inning with an RBI single.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps struck first in the top of the fourth inning after a double steal from Lewis and Schlotterbeck, scoring Lewis as Maryland went up 1-0.
- Schlotterbeck scored the next at-bat on an RBI single from Jones to make it 2-0, Jones advancing to second on the throw.
- Jones scored one batter later on an RBI single from Runyan as Maryland led 3-0 in the fourth inning.
- Graham tied the game at 3-3 for the Spartans in the bottom of the fifth inning with a bases-clearing, three-run double.
- San Jose State took a 4-3 lead in the fifth with an RBI single from Rico.
- Maryland tied things up at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning as Liguori reached on an error and Davis scored.
- The Terps took a 5-4 lead on an infield RBI single from Mikami in the sixth and added to the lead with a second indfield RBI single from McFarland to make it 6-4.
- Maryland scored a fourth run in the sixth as Lewis was hit with the bases loaded, giving the Terps a 7-4 lead.
By The Numbers
- 6.2: Innings thrown by Wyche on Friday
- 11: Hits for Maryland on Friday afternoon
- 12: Saves for Bucher this season, tying the Big Ten single-season record.
- 19: Times Maryland has scored at least seven or more runs in a game this season
- 38: Wins for Maryland this season, the most since winning 40 games during the 2011 season
Up Next
- The Terps, with the win, will move on to the semifinals of the NISC, facing Big Ten foe Iowa at 2 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the Triple Crown Sports YouTube channel.
