IOWA CITY, IA – No. 10 seed Maryland softball took down No. 7 seed Penn State, 3-1, in nine innings in the Big Ten Tournament first round at Pearl Field on Wednesday. It was Maryland's (24-29) second Big Ten Tournament win in program history.
Maryland will play No. 2 seed Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals tomorrow, May 9. The first pitch is at 5:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Diamond Williams manufactured the go-ahead run. In the top of the ninth, she hit an RBI single to left center, allowing Caitlyn Cornwell to score. Madison Runyan added an RBI single, scoring Bri Godfrey, for an insurance run. Runyan finished with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.
Courtney Wyche sealed the win by retiring the final three Nittany Lions. She pitched her 19th complete game and earned her 14th win of the season. Wyche surrendered just three hits and struck out five batters.
Williams hit her 14th home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning. It was a solo shot to right center to open up scoring. She ranks fourth in program history for single-season home runs, and the blast was the first home run by a Terp in the Big Ten Tournament since May 7, 2015, against Penn State, when three Terps went deep. Williams went 2-for-4 on the day with two RBIs and a run.
Penn State (34-18), ranked No. 35 in RPI, scored its one run in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Liana Jones.
Breaking Down The Action
- Delaney Reefe caught a Penn State runner attempting to steal second base for the final out of the second inning. Each team remained scoreless.
- Diamond Williams put the first run on the board with a solo home run to right center in the fourth.
- Liana Jones responded with a home run in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1.
- Courtney Wyche got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and the game remained tied.
- The Terps took the lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by Williams. Madison Runyan followed with one of her own and they led 3-1 entering the bottom of the inning.
- Wyche sealed the win by retiring the final three Nittany Lions in the bottom of the inning.
Terps In The Record Books
- Courtney Wyche struck out five batters in the game, increasing her career total to 661, which is fourth all-time. Next on the list is Kerry Hickey (2008-11), with 663 career strikeouts. Her 236 strikeouts on the season also rank as the seventh most for a single season in program history.
- Wyche is also third on the all-time innings pitched list, with 632.1 innings in her career. She passed Kendra Knight (2009-12), who threw 630.1 innings in her career. Next on the list is Amanda Bettker (1999-2002), who pitched 657 innings in her career.
- Wyche pitched her 52nd complete game of her career, which is tied with Kendra Knight (2009-12) for third in program history. Amanda Bettker (1999-2002) is second with 73 complete games.
- Wyche earned the 54th win of her career, which is fourth in program history. Next on the list is Kerry Hickey (2008-11), who has 55 career wins.
- Jaeda McFarland stole one base today and is second in school history with 71 for her career. She is chasing her teammate Mikami, who stands alone with 78 stolen bases.
- Diamond Williams hit her 14th home run of the season, ranking fourth in program history for a single season. Next on the list is Corey Schwartz (2015), who has 15 home runs.
Numbers To Know
- 5: Madison Runyan has five multi-hit games in her career.
- 14: Diamond Williams hit her 14th home run of the season, ranking fourth for a single season in program history.
- 46: Williams has 46 multi-hit games, including 15 as a Terp.
- 236: Courtney Wyche leads the Big Ten Conference with 236 strikeouts this season.
Up Next
- Maryland will play No. 2 seed Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. The game is tomorrow, May 9, and first pitch is at 5:30 p.m. ET. It will be televised on Big Ten Network.
