Maddie Martin
With one out in the fourth inning in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader against Virginia Tech, Terrapins softball catcher Shannon Bustillos stepped into the batters box at Maryland Softball Stadium. The Terps were trailing, 4-3, but had gotten two runners on base in the bottom half and were threatening.
The Hokies countered by summoning pitcher Kelly Heinz, who shutout the Terps, 3-0, in Game 1.
Heinz allowed the Terps to muster just one hit in the opener. But this time, Bustillos lifted a fastball over the right field fence to give the team a 6-4 lead.
The Terps couldn’t take advantage of Bustillos’ three-run homer, though, and dropped the game, 8-6.
The Terps announced before the contest that shortstop Lindsey Schmeiser would miss the remainder of the season due to a torn meniscus, which put a sour note on a day dedicated to senior center fielder Amanda McCann.
The team’s marketing department distributed yellow McCann t-shirt jerseys before the game. The senior went 0-3 in the opener but scored two runs and reached base on a bunt single in the second game.
Pitcher Brenna Nation started the second game for the Terps, but couldn’t make it out of the first inning. After Nation allowed two singles and a walk to begin the game, she walked in cleanup hitter Katey Smith. After that, Watten brought Madison Martin to pitch.
Martin promptly allowed a base-clearing double, giving Virginia Tech a quick 4-0 lead. The Terps struck back quickly in the next inning, though, as catcher Shannon Bustillos plated McCann with a triple before scoring two batters later on a sacrifice off of third baseman Jessica Warner’s bat.
Martin settled down nicely after the second inning, throwing 5.1 solid innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. She also contributed on the other side of the ball with two hits and a run scored.
The Hokies broke the tie in the top of the seventh, plating two runs against Kaitlyn Schmeiser, who relieved Martin after allowing two earned runs in the opener. The Terps made some noise in the bottom half of the inning, but their comeback back ultimately fell short when Strange was caught at home to end the game.
