The Terrapins softball team struggled once again to score runs in a Saturday morning loss against Columbia. But in the Terps’ night game, they did just enough at the plate to upset undefeated Florida Atlantic in a wild extra inning affair that went late into the night.

The Terps’ 4-2 loss to Columbia marked the seventh time they scored two runs or fewer in their first 13 games.

Columbia blasted a solo home run in the second inning and scored three times in the third on a bases clearing double. That was all they scoring it would need.

An RBI double from outfielder Kylie Datil and an RBI single from catcher Kristina Dillard in the sixth cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Terps failed to score in the seventh despite a one-out single from outfielder Destiney Henderson.

Pitcher Hannah Dewey took the loss after she allowed four runs in 2.2 innings of work.

In their second game, the Terps faced a FAU team that received votes in the last national poll.

Like they did in close losses against then-No. 5 Alabama and then-No. 6 Oregon, coach Julie Wright’s team stepped up to the challenge. This time, though, the Terps pulled off the upset, beating FAU 7-6 in 11 innings.

It was the longest game the Terps have participated in since April 19, 2009.

Dillard launched a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Terps a quick lead.

FAU came back with a run in the second. Then, in the fourth, the Owls scored on a dropped pop up and a bases loaded walk to take a 3-2 advantage.

The Terps offense responded immediately.

Infielder Skylynne Ellazar notched on a one-out bunt single, and Datil reached base on an error. Dewey followed with an RBI single to tie the game. Dillard, who went 3-for-3 in the game, gave the Terps the lead with an RBI hit up the middle.

Dewey entered the game as a reliever in the fifth and escaped a bases loaded, no-out jam unscathed.

The Owls tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff home run, but after allowing a runner to reach second base, Dewey sent the game to extra innings with a strikeout.

As per international softball rules, each extra inning started with a runner automatically placed at second base. Neither team benefited from the rule in the eight frame.

In the ninth, the Terps took a 5-4 lead with a double down the left-field line from infielder Emily Libero. But the Terps couldn’t close out the game.

With runners on first and third, Wright called on pitcher Brenna Nation. She got the first hitter to ground out, but after intentionally walking the bases loaded, she allowed an RBI to even the game up once again.

Nation kept the game alive, though, as she induced an infield fly and ground out to send it to the tenth. Dillard notched her fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the next frame, scoring Datil from third to give the Terps a 6-5 advantage.

Nation allowed the tying run in the bottom of the tenth, and the game progressed past midnight. Infielder Corey Schwartz ripped an RBI double as the Terps responded once again. Ellazar knocked in Schwartz to give the Terps an 8-6 lead.

In the bottom of the eleventh, the Owls cut into the Terps’ lead with a sacrifice fly, but Nation finally found a way to end the game. She earned her first win of the season after pitching four innings and allowing two unearned runs.

Tomorrow, the Terps (5-9) will finish their weekend in Florida against Stony Brook at 11:15 a.m.