:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63114076/JulieWright.0.jpg)
Maryland softball finished this weekend’s Amy S. Harrison Classic in Riverside, California, with a 3-2 record. The Terps now move to 9-6, their best start to a season since going 10-5 to begin 2015. Maryland got some solid pitching performances, and several different players contributed to the offense throughout the weekend.
Game summaries
(Road team listed first)
Friday afternoon: Portland State 13, Maryland 8
The Terps and Vikings combined for 28 hits and 21 runs in an offensive shootout. Portland State jumped on Terps’ starting pitcher, Sami Main, early in the game, recording three runs on four hits in the top of the first. The Terps answered back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs, but the Vikings put two more on the board in the second inning, bringing their lead back to three.
A few innings later in the top of the fifth, Portland State tacked on four runs, including a two-run homer. Main was relieved by redshirt freshman Victoria Galvan, who let up two more runs before getting out of the inning. Main finished the game throwing 4 ⅔ innings, while surrendering 10 hits and five earned runs.
After the Vikings put up four runs in the fifth, the Terps answered back with four of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Maryland’s offense got going with back-to-back singles from sophomore JoJo McRae and freshman Taylor Okada, and they were both brought in to score on a double from junior Amanda Brashear.
Trailing 9-6 in the sixth inning, the Terps brought in senior Sydney Golden to pitch. Golden wasn’t able to slow down the Vikings’ offense either, though, as they poured on three more runs to take a 12-6 lead. Maryland added two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but didn’t pose enough of a threat late.
Friday evening: Maryland 8, UC Riverside 3
The Terps’ offense had a difficult time against UC Riverside pitcher Jacy Boles for six innings. But Maryland finally erupted in the seventh inning, racking up eight runs to pull ahead.
The Highlanders struck first on a solo shot over the left field wall in the second inning. In the fourth, UC Riverside added two more runs on a single, giving the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.
The seventh inning started with a leadoff single from sophomore Sammie Stefan, and two walks loaded the bases with no outs. Brashear and Okada hit back-to-back RBI singles to give the Terps their first runs of the game. With the game tied up at 3-3, freshman Gracie Voulgaris broke it open by reaching on an error, allowing two runs to score. The next batter, freshman Regan Kerr, tacked on two more runs on a single that made it 7-3. Senior Bailey Boyd joined in on the fun, adding one more run on a single before UC Riverside finally recorded three outs after facing 12 batters.
After pitching the final two innings of the first game of the day, Golden was back out in the circle to start. The Riverside native pitched a complete game, while surrendering just three runs on six hits and struck out three in win.
Saturday afternoon: Maryland 5, UNLV 0
Golden started and finished the game in the circle for Maryland, tossing another gem against the 10-1 UNLV Rebels. Golden pitched all seven innings, only allowing six hits and recording two strikeouts.
The Terps scored two on RBI singles from Boyd and sophomore Taylor Wilson in the second inning. In the following frame, Maryland added another run on a single from junior Anna Kufta to take an early 3-0 lead.
The offense went quiet for a few innings until the seventh, where the Terps added on some insurance runs. With two outs in the top of the inning, Okada got the rally started with a double into center field. The freshman was later brought in to score on a Brashear single. Kufta followed with a double that scored Brashear, making it 5-0.
UNLV put some baserunners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Golden was able to shut it down and propel the Terps to the victory.
Saturday evening: Maryland 2, UC Riverside 7
The Terps scored first in this one, but the Highlanders answered back and pulled away in third inning after scoring three runs. Maryland used three different pitchers: junior Kianna Carr, senior Sami Main and freshman Amelia Jarecke. Carr and Main both allowed three earned runs, while Jarecke allowed one in two innings, recording her first collegiate strikeout in the process.
Okada led off the game with a triple and was brought in to score on a single from Kufta. But after Maryland took a quick 1-0 lead, the Highlanders answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. In the third inning, the Terps added another run off of a Stefan double, but UC Riverside answered back with another three-run inning to take a 6-2 lead.
Maryland’s offense went cold after the third inning, as the Terps only managed one baserunner for the remainder of the game.
Sunday afternoon: Portland State 9, Maryland 12
The Terps were able to hang on and hold off the Vikings’ comeback effort in a close one.
Okada led off the game with yet another triple and was brought home to score in the next at-bat on Brashear’s sacrifice fly into right field. In the following inning, the Terps added three runs, including two from an Okada single, to take a 4-0 lead.
Maryland tacked on four runs in the bottom of the third. With runners on first and second, Voulgaris sent one over the left field wall for her first collegiate home run, extending the Terps’ lead. After the big homer, Kerr brought in another run on a single to take an 8-0 lead. Portland State picked up one run in the top of the fourth off of a solo shot, but the Terps answered right back in the bottom of the frame. Kufta ripped a double bringing in two, giving Maryland a 10-1 lead. Kufta would later come in to score off of an error by the Vikings.
Maryland started Golden in the circle once again, and the senior was cruising until the fifth inning, where she gave up four runs, including a three-run homer. The starter finished the game with five innings pitched and six runs allowed. Portland State scored four more runs in the sixth, making the score 11-9 just two frames after it was 11-1. Main was brought into relieve Golden during the sixth-inning rally and finished the game with two innings pitched, allowing two runs.
In the bottom of the sixth, Voulgaris ripped an RBI triple to give the Terps an insurance run and extended their lead to three. Main was able to shut down the Vikings in the seventh, setting them down in order to secure the win for Maryland.
A Golden weekend
The Riverside native was feeling right at home all weekend, posting some incredible stats. Golden started in three of the five games this weekend and picked up the win in each start. The senior tossed two complete-game gems and one game where she struggled a bit but still came out with the win. The senior recorded 21 innings pitched while allowing 10 earned runs, and is now 6-2 on the season with a 3.94 ERA.
Widespread offense
The Terps’ offense tallied 35 runs, which is the most they’ve recorded in a single weekend this year. Maryland had a variety of batters contributing to this offensive outburst. Okada continued to be a great leadoff hitter, hitting .444 with three RBIs and seven runs scored. Voulgaris hit .313 with a home run, seven RBIs and five runs scored. Boyd had an incredible weekend as well, hitting .563 in 16 at-bats, racking up three RBIs and scoring five runs.
On deck
Maryland will be heading to North Carolina next weekend to compete in the Carolina Classic. Unlike the past tournaments, Maryland will only be playing in four games. The Terps will open up the weekend with two games on Friday against George Washington and Florida Atlantic. Saturday will be against the host, North Carolina, and the Terps will end the weekend against UNC Greensboro on Sunday.