Down by two runs to Pittsburgh with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Terrapin softball team had the bases loaded and freshman pitcher Kerry Hickey, one of its top hitters, at the plate.
A hit would at least tie the game and send it to extra innings. Anything but a double play, and the game would continue.
But Hickey hit into a game-ending double play, and the No. 23 Terps (19-2) saw their luck and program-record winning streak run out.
“We all thought we were going to pull another one out,” coach Laura Watten said. “But it’s not always going to go the way you want it to.”
“Kerry’s been pretty clutch for us, and just thinking that we’ve come back from behind in the seventh before, we can do it again,” senior outfielder Jenny Belak said. “Obviously, that didn’t work out.”
The Terps dominated their first game against the Panthers (10-8) yesterday with the stellar pitching of junior Meredith Nelles and won 6-0.
The Terps came out with the victory, but they did suffer a loss. In the first inning senior infielder Sarde Stewart, who is leading the Terps in batting at .385, tried to lay a bunt down on a high pitch that struck her in the hand. She left the game to receive stitches and did not return. Senior catcher Brittany Bessho replaced Stewart at first base, and freshman catcher Julie Lofland stepped in for Bessho at catcher.
Stewart will not be back until the Terps open their ACC schedule March 21 at North Carolina.
In the second game, the Terp’ frantic push didn’t leave Watten pleased.
“I just feel like it goes back to what I’ve been saying: that we have to go out and play better all the way around and not wait until the last inning to try and perform,” she said. “Everybody’s gotta learn how to lose, especially when you’re on a win streak like we’ve been. Hopefully we’ll learn from it, and bounce back this weekend.”
jnewmandbk@gmail.com
