Box Score COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland softball opened conference play with a bang, defeating Minnesota, 7-6, in dramatic fashion in its Big Ten opener at Maryland Softball Stadium on Friday. The Terps have won four games in a row and seven of their last eight. It was also head coach
Lauren Karn's first Big Ten win.
Sammi Woods hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the win. She was set up by a leadoff walk from
Mazie MacFarlane and a single by
Michaela Jones.
Courtney Wyche held Minnesota (14-14, 0-1 B1G) scoreless in extras.
The Terps (14-14, 1-0 B1G) put on a strong offensive showing throughout the lineup, as they recorded 12 hits as a team. Sydney Lewis, Jaeda McFarland, Michaela Jones, and Mazie MacFarlane all finished with multiple hits. MacFarlane went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, her third homer in her last two games. She added an RBI earlier in this game.
Lewis went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Michaela Jones and Jaeda McFarland each drove in a run.
Wyche struck out nine Minnesota batters over nine innings. The graduate ace retired nine batters in a row across the third, fourth, and fifth innings. She picked up her 41st career complete game and 48th career win, both ranking fifth in Maryland's career record book.
The game was the first of a doubleheader between the schools.
Breaking Down The Action
- Minnesota went up 2-0 in the first inning with a two-run home run.
- The Terps wasted no time overtaking the Gophers, hitting through the order to take a 3-2 lead. Sydney Lewis got the scoring going with an RBI single to score Megan Mikami. Mazie MacFarlane and Michaela Jones each added RBI singles to score Caitlyn Cornwell and Bailey Murphy, respectively. Then Sammi Woods slapped a single to load the bases, forcing Minnesota to make an early pitching change.
- Jaeda McFarland cut off hopes of another Minnesota home run in the third inning with a decisive catch in center-field as Wyche retired the Gophers in order.
- Maryland loaded the bases again in the bottom of the third on singles from Lewis and MacFarlane and a Jones walk, but the Terps couldn't extend their advantage.
- Wyche prevented Minnesota from regaining momentum in the fourth frame, retiring the side for the second inning in a row.
- Mikami smacked a leadoff double in the fourth, followed by an RBI double from McFarland. Lewis hit a sacrifice fly to score McFarland. Mazie MacFarlane then smashed a solo homer to left-center to put the Terps up 6-2.
- Wyche pitched another one-two-three inning in the top of the third.
- Minnesota scored three runs on an RBI single and a two-run home run to move the score to 6-5.
- The Gophers tied the game at six with an RBI single in the top of the seventh.
- Woods led off the bottom of the seventh with a successful bunt and touched second on a Minnesota error. Madison Runyan followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Woods to third. Mikami lined a ball down the third base line but just missed tagging first before the Minnesota first baseman, forcing the game into extra-innings.
- Wyche and the Terps defense came up big in extras by retiring three-straight batters to hold the tie in the eighth and ninth innings.
- MacFarlane led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and Jones followed with a single. Woods came up clutch with the game-sealing walk off hit to drive home MacFarlane and Jones.
Terps In The Record Books
- Wyche struck out nine batters in the game to increase her career total to 511 which is fifth all-time after passing Monica Cyphert (2001-04). Next on the list is Amanda Bettker (1999-2002) with 546 in her career.
- Wyche is also sixth on the all-time innings pitched list with 525.2 in her career. She passed Monica Cyphert (2001-04) by pitching nine innings today. Next on the list is Kaitlyn Schmeiser (2012-15) who pitched 578.2 innings.
- Wyche received the 48th win of her career, which broke a tie for fifth all-time. She passed Kaitlyn Schmeiser (2012-15) and Monica Cyphert (2001-04) to stand alone. Next on the list is Kendra Knight (2009-12) with 51 wins.
- Wyche pitched the 41st complete game of her career, which is fifth all-time. She broke a tie with Jessica Aditays (2002-05). Next on the list is Tisha Killian (1996-98) with 48 complete games.
Numbers To Know
- 1: Head coach Lauren Karn picked up the first Big Ten win of her career.
- 3: Mazie MacFarlane has three home runs in her last two games.
- 3: This extra-innings battle was Maryland softball's third nine inning game this season.
- 4: The Terps have won four games in a row.
- 5: Sydney Lewis notched her fifth career game with multiple hits.
- 5: MacFarlane has five hits in her last two games.
- 7: Maryland has won seven of its last eight games.
- 5: The Terps recorded five singles in a row in the first inning.
- 8: MacFarlane hit her eighth career home run.
- 9: Courtney Wyche retired nine batters in a row in the game.
- 26: Michaela Jones had her 26th career multi-hit game.
- 30: MacFarlane notched her 30th career game with multiple hits.
- 46: McFarland reached her 46th career game with multiple hits.
Up Next
- Maryland is set to face Minnesota for game two of Friday's doubleheader at approximately 6:10 p.m. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
