Box Score PISCATAWAY, NJ – Maryland softball hit four home runs in its Big Ten Conference series opening win against Rutgers, 11-7, at Rutgers Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon. The last time Maryland hit four or more homers in a game was on April 4, 2015 against Indiana, where it hit five. Maryland improved to 12-12 on the season, while Rutgers faltered to 14-17
Sydney Lewis hit two home runs in the game, and Mazie MacFarlane and Matti Benson added one homer apiece for the Terps. As a team, Maryland recorded 15 hits as they were unstoppable on the offensive end. Its 11 runs scored were a season-high.
The game was tied at seven apiece in the fifth inning, but Sammi Woods scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Maryland then added runs in the sixth with Lewis' second two-run home run of the game and a sacrifice fly from
Bailey Murphy that scored
Gracie Wilson.
This was Lewis' first career multi-home run game. She now has 13 home runs in her career, seven of which have occurred this season. The junior went 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs.
MacFarlane went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, as she also hit a two-run homer. It was her second of the season. She has 11 home runs in her career between her time at Utah State and Maryland. Seven of her long balls are with the Terps.
Benson, a freshman, was the third Terp to record a two-run home run. Her and MacFarlane's occurred in the second inning. Benson went 2-for-3 with two runs. She has two home runs in her young career.
Bri Godfrey earned her eighth win of her career and fourth of the season. She pitched five innings out of the bullpen, shutting out the Rutgers' batters and allowing just one hit.
Woods (2-for-4 with two runs), Madison Runyan (2-for-4 with one RBI) and Sam Bean (3-for-4 with a double and triple) also recorded multiple hits in the game.
Breaking Down The Action
- Sydney Lewis smashed a two-run shot to left field in the opening inning, giving Maryland an early 2-0 lead.
- Rutgers responded with three runs scored in the bottom frame of the first. Highlighted by a two-run homer of their own.
- Mazie MacFarlane and Matti Benson each hit two-run homers in the second inning. The Terps led 6-3.
- The Scarlet Knights claimed their first lead of the game after scoring four runs in the bottom half of the second. Rutgers led 7-6 entering the third.
- Madison Runyan tied the game 7-7 in the third, hitting an RBI single to left center.
- Caitlyn Cornwell made a run-saving throw to home plate that tagged out the potential Rutgers' go-ahead score, keeping the game tied 7-7 entering the fourth.
- Sammi Woods reached home plate on a passed ball in the fifth, putting Maryland ahead by a run.
- Maryland added three runs in the sixth. Lewis hit her second two-run homer of the game, and Bailey Murphy hit an RBI sac fly to center field.
- Bri Godfrey retired the final three batters of the game, in the seventh.
Numbers To Know
- 1: Lewis recorded her first career multi-HR game.
- 2: Godfrey pitched her second career shutout.
- 2: Benson has two home runs in her career.
- 3: MacFarlane has hit homers in all three-games against Rutgers.
- 3: Maryland has hit at least one home run in all three games in the series against Rutgers.
- 4: Maryland belted four home runs in the contest.
- 5: Benson recorded the fifth multi-hit game of her career.
- 6: Runyan has six multi-hit games in her career.
- 6: Benson recorded her sixth multi-RBI game.
- 7: MacFarlane has seven homers in her Maryland career, including two this season.
- 8: Godfrey has eight wins in her career, including three this season.
- 8: MacFarlane has eight multi-RBI games in her Maryland career.
- 11: MacFarlane has 11 home runs in her career between her time at Utah State and Maryland.
- 13: Lewis has 13 home runs in her career, including seven this season.
- 13: Lewis has 13 multi-hit games in her career.
- 16: Woods has 16 multi-hit games this season.
- 17: Lewis has 17 multi-RBI games in her career.
- 27: Bean has 27 multi-hit games in her career, including five as a Terp.
- 40: MacFarlane has 40 multi-hit games, including 17 as a Terp.
Up Next
- Maryland returns home to host Colgate on Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
