Maryland softball pitcher Madison Martin started the bottom of the first inning by hitting Michigan outfielder Sierra Lawrence in the foot.
When Lawrence broke for second base on a steal attempt, catcher Kristina Dillard threw the ball into center field. That allowed the outfielder, who holds the all-time Wolverines record for stolen bases, to score. It was the first of many runs for No. 2 Michigan in a 16-0 Terps loss.
With two outs in the second inning, Martin hit Lawrence again. The Wolverines took advantage of the mistake by score seven runs in the frame, highlighted by a three-run home run from infielder Tera Blanco.
An error from Jordan Aughinbaugh at first base and a misplayed rundown hindered Martin, and nine consecutive Wolverines reached base safely in the outburst.
The Terps made three errors in the contest. Though Martin allowed nine runs in 1.2 innings of work, only two of those were earned.
Utility player Hannah Dewey replaced Martin in the circle, and she retired the first batter she faced to get out of the second inning. She ran into trouble in the third, however, after infielder Lindsey Schmeiser bobbled a ball at shortstop. That ended up setting up a bases-loaded situation for Wolverines catcher Aidan Falk
But Dewey got Faulk to ground out to second base to end the threat, finishing the only scoreless inning from Maryland’s pitching staff in the contest. At that point, though, the team trailed 9-0.
Michigan, which leads the Big Ten in batting average and home runs, extended its advantage in the fourth. Dewey gave up six runs without getting an out before she was replaced by freshman pitcher Ari Jarvis.
Jarvis has not featured often in her first season at Maryland, but she managed to get three straight outs against Michigan’s powerful offense. One of those outs was a sacrifice fly to push the score to 16-0 in favor of the Wolverines.
Maryland, meanwhile only notched two hits through three innings against Wolverines starter Sara Driesenga. And despite a leadoff double from Dewey off Blanco, who came in as a relief pitcher, in the fourth, the Terps were unable to score.
The Terps lost via run rule for the second straight game after Blanco struck out two batters and got infielder Skylynne Ellazar to fly out in the fifth. They’ll hope to improve their fortunes Sunday at 1 p.m. in the series finale.
