In a stretch of about 30 minutes Tuesday night, infielder Kathy McLaughlin took a pitch off her hand at the plate and then a ball off the chin in the field.

Those nicks and bruises, however, won’t stop Terrapin softball coach Laura Watten from penciling in McLaughlin’s name on the lineup card for the 44th time in 44 games Saturday at Florida State, a feat equaled by no other player on the squad.

“It’s a good feeling,” McLaughlin said. “It’s good to go out there every day and know that I’ll be out there and that I can help the team.”

The junior from Baltimore has found a home both offensively and defensively for the Terps this season, batting in the lower part of the order on a consistent basis in addition to her duties in the field.

While Watten spoke glowingly of McLaughlin’s defense after Tuesday’s doubleheader against Binghamton, she seemed even more pleased with McLaughlin’s ability to rebound from Sunday’s doubleheader against NC State, in which she went a combined 0-for-5. On Tuesday, McLaughlin was 3-for-4 with one RBI.

“I think she’s really put some time between Sunday and today and thought about what she needed to do at the plate and really made things happen,” Watten said Tuesday. “She’s come through, and I think she feels a whole lot better about herself and how she’s doing. That’s the player that she is.”

McLaughlin boosted her batting average to .248 with her performance, but she hasn’t let the low mark, which ranks seventh among the team’s regular starters, bother her.

“I have 100 percent confidence in myself,” she said. “I have bad games, I have really good games, but I stay pretty confident out there.”

GROWING PAINS

With an 11-2 record and a 1.55 ERA so far this season, freshman pitcher Ashley Czechner’s transition to the college game seemingly has become a continuation of her dominant high school career.

But outings such as those Sunday against NC State, when she allowed the game-winning home run in the seventh inning, and Tuesday against Binghamton, when she allowed two quick Binghamton runs in an eventual Terp win, show there is still room for growth for the newcomer.

“I haven’t had a home run hit off me in three years until I came here,” Czechner said. “I’m just getting used to batters putting balls in play. In high school, that never happened. I’m definitely getting used to that.”

Tuesday’s start marked the first time since March 12 that Czechner had given up two runs in an appearance. The Pawleys Island, S.C., native eventually settled down before giving way to pitcher Kendra Knight in the seventh inning, but she admitted the early trouble rattled her confidence somewhat.

“I was surprised,” she said. “I’ve never heard of Binghamton. They came out swinging.”

“She’s not pitching in high school anymore,” Watten said. “It’s a whole different level of ball. I think the more accolades she gets and the better she is and the more she’s out there, the more she’s going to get challenged and the more people are going to want to come out and take her down. She’s just got to grow.”

Another aspect of Czechner’s transition has been her move to the bullpen. Since March 20, Czechner has made only three starts, but she has relieved Knight or Kerry Hickey on four other occasions. Against Boston College, she picked up two wins after shutting down the Eagles’ offense late, but her blemish against NC State again proved that she is, after all, still a freshman.

“When you’re thrown into a pressure situation, it’s hard to be clutch every time,” Czechner said. “I expect that of myself. The reality is that it might not happen every time.”

RANKING UP

The newest computer-based rankings again have the Terps as a likely NCAA Tournament team. As of Sunday’s series with NC State, the Terps were ranked No. 34 in the RPI, the second-highest among all ACC teams, behind only Georgia Tech at No. 14. Last year, the Terps made the field with a No. 46 ranking.

Despite winning eight of their past nine games, the Terps have fallen in the RPI. The Terps were ranked as high as No. 21 on April 5 after being swept by Georgia Tech, but they fell to No. 31 after sweeping Boston College and Georgetown and now reside three slots below that after their split with NC State.

Other ACC teams in the rankings include North Carolina (No. 46) and Virginia Tech (No. 56).

dgallen@umdbk.com