Skip To Main Content

University of Maryland Athletics

Courtney Wyche

Softball

Wyche Strikes Out 19, Most In NCAA This Season, In 2-0 Win At No. 22 Penn State

Box Score STATE COLLEGE, PA – Courtney Wyche struck out a career-high 19 batters in Maryland softball's 2-0 upset win over No. 22 Penn State in nine innings at Nittany Lion Softball Park on Friday. Wyche broke the NCAA individual game-high for strikeouts in 2024. She passed Stanford's NiJaree Canady, who struck out 18 batters against Georgia on March 3. It was also the most by a Big Ten player since Sydney Sickels struck out 21 batters for Illinois on Feb. 11, 2023. 
  Wyche also pitched the 12th shutout and 43rd complete game of her career, while allowing just two hits. She was awarded the 50th win of her career and her ninth of the season after striking out two of Penn State's final three batters. The win was Maryland's (16-15, 3-1 B1G) second ranked win of the season after previously taking down No. 22 Oregon on March 1. 

Neither team scored until Jaeda McFarland belted a double to left center to drive in the game-winning runs in the top of the ninth inning. She finished with two hits in the game. 
  Megan Mikami notched a career high four hits. She added a stolen base and a run.

Diamond Williams went 3-for-5. Michaela Jones and Madison Runyan were the only other Terps to record a hit. 

Penn State's (24-7, 3-1 B1G) Bridget Nemeth was handed the first loss of her career in the circle after starting off her career 14-0. Emily Maddock entered the matchup with only one strikeout in her last 94 at bats. Wyche struck her out twice in the game. 
 
Breaking Down The Action
  • Megan Mikami stole a base in the first inning to add to her program record. 
  • Courtney Wyche allowed just one hit through the first five innings as neither team entered the scoring column. She even struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth. 
  • Maryland had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a runner in scoring position but couldn't capitalize.
  • The Terps had a chance to win the game in the top of the eight, with two runners on but were unable to bring the runners home.
  • Jaeda McFarland came up huge for the Terps in the ninth, hitting the game-winning two-run RBI double to give Maryland the first lead of the afternoon 2-0. Singles by Mikami and Madison Runyan set up McFarland with the prime opportunity.
  • Wyche closed out the win for the Terps and finished her career afternoon striking out nineteen batters. 
Terps In The Record Books
  • Megan Mikami broke the school's stolen bases record against Virginia on March 12. She added to her career total by stealing a base and giving her 72 in her four seasons. 
  • Courtney Wyche struck out 19 batters in the game to increase her career total to 542, which is fifth all-time. She's five strikeouts from passing Amanda Bettker (1999-2002). 
  • Wyche is also sixth on the all-time innings pitched list with 541.2 in her career. Next on the list is Kaitlyn Schmeiser (2012-15) who pitched 578.2 innings. 
  • Wyche received the 50th win of her career, which is fifth in program history. Next on the list is Kendra Knight (2009-12) with 51 wins.
  • Wyche pitched the 43rd complete game of her career, which is fifth all-time. Next on the list is Tisha Killian (1996-98) with 48 complete games. 
  • Wyche pitched the 12th shutout of her career, placing her fifth on Maryland's all-time list. She broke a three-way tie with Jessica Aditays (2002-05) and Monica Cyphert (2001-04). Kendra Knight (2009-12) and Kerry Hickey (2008-11) are tied for fourth with 13 shutouts.
Numbers To Know  
  • 2: The Terps picked up their second ranked win of the season.  
  • 4: Megan Mikami tallied a career-high four hits. 
  • 8: Courtney Wyche is 8-0 in circle during the month of March.
  • 12: Wyche pitched her 12th career shutout, which is fifth in program history. 
  • 19: Wyche struck out a career-high 19 batters and set the 2024 single-game high mark.
  • 33: Mikami recorded the 33rd multi-hit game in her career. 
  • 41: Diamond Williams notched her 41th career multi-hit game.
  • 43: Wyche pitched the 43rd complete game of her career, which is fifth in program history.
  • 48: Jaeda McFarland tallied the 48th multi-hit game of her career.
  • 50: Wyche earned her 50th win of her career, which is fifth in program history. 
  • 72: Mikami has 72 stolen bases in her career, which is a career program record. She also has nine stolen bases on the year.
Up Next
  • Maryland is back in action tomorrow, March 30 for game two of the series in State College. The game starts at 2 pm and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Michaela Jones

#20 Michaela Jones

INF
Senior
Jaeda McFarland

#22 Jaeda McFarland

OF
Graduate Student
Megan Mikami

#44 Megan Mikami

OF
Senior
Madison Runyan

#6 Madison Runyan

INF
Sophomore
Courtney Wyche

#42 Courtney Wyche

P
Graduate Student
Diamond Williams

#2 Diamond Williams

1B
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Michaela Jones

#20 Michaela Jones

Senior
INF
Jaeda McFarland

#22 Jaeda McFarland

Graduate Student
OF
Megan Mikami

#44 Megan Mikami

Senior
OF
Madison Runyan

#6 Madison Runyan

Sophomore
INF
Courtney Wyche

#42 Courtney Wyche

Graduate Student
P
Diamond Williams

#2 Diamond Williams

Graduate Student
1B