The Terrapins softball team was swept on the first day of the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
The Terps (1-11) opened play by falling 11-0 to No. 3 Washington in a shortened after five innings game because of the mercy rule.
The Terps pitching staff struggled against the Huskies’ high-powered offense, as Washington scored in each of the first four innings to take a commanding lead. Pitcher Brenna Nation started in the circle for the Terps, but threw only 2.2 innings, giving up eight runs on seven hits. Pitcher Hannah Dewey replaced Nation but also struggled. Dewey allowed three runs on four hits in a little more than two innings.
At the plate, The Terps were shutdown by pitcher Bryana Walker, who gave up three hits in four innings to earn the win, her seventh of the season. Infielder Lindsey Schmeiser, who played first base once again, was 1-for-2. Dewey and infielder Juli Strange were the only other Terps to record hits against Walker.
The Terps’ bats finally came alive against Long Beach State in the nightcap, but the 49ers still came away with the 11-5 win.
After scoring on an error in the first inning, Long Beach State extended their lead in the fourth with a solo home run off starting pitcher Kaitlyn Schmeiser.
The Terps got a run back on an RBI single by infielder Kylie Datil in the bottom of the fourth, but Long Beach State added two more in the fifth to extend their lead to 4-1.
The offense the Terps had been anxiously waiting for came in their half of the fifth inning. A four-run, five-hit inning — which included back-to-back RBI doubles by Schmeiser and catcher Shannon Bustillos — gave the Terps a 5-4 lead.
Schmeiser, who gave up four runs in five innings, was replaced by Madison Martin to start the sixth. Long Beach State took advantage of the pitching change quickly, scoring four runs of their own to retake the lead, 8-5.
The 49ers added three more insurance runs in the seventh on their way to an 11-5 victory.
