The Maryland softball team secured its first win in historic fashion last weekend, beating then-No. 1 Florida after dropping eight straight contests to start the season. In their season opener, the Terps nearly beat No. 12 Minnesota. An RBI single in the seventh inning gave the Golden Gophers a 3-2 victory.
But coach Julie Wright’s team has also lost five games to opponents outside power five conferences, so she hopes to see more consistency from her group when it faces five more mid-major foes at the Mardi Gras Classic.
“One of the things we talk so much about on a daily basis is just do your piece of the puzzle,” Wright said. “And that’s really all it takes, because if everybody puts their piece in, and the puzzle’s complete, you’re going to play Maryland softball’s game and apparently, that’s good enough to knock off No. 1.”
Before the Terps face No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday afternoon, they’ll play Drake, Bowling Green and Bradley. Sunday, they’ll end the event with a morning title versus Dartmouth.
Pitcher Madison Martin stressed the team’s need to focus on every game, not just the ones against top opponents.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing at, we can get beat,” Martin said. “We showed that throughout the first eight games of the season, right?”
Maryland’s 4-2 win over Florida showed it’s capable of defeating any program in the country. Before the game, Martin said the Terps adopted an attitude that there was “nothing to lose.” The redshirt senior then noted how relaxed her team played during the contest, which she hopes can continue regardless of the opponent. Wright made it clear to the Terps “there is no low program” in Division I softball.
“With our first win there, that’s just momentum into the next ones,” catcher Kristina Dillard said. “So, now that we finally have that first win under our belt, we just have to know that we can do it. We know how to win and we know what it takes.”
“Keeping it going means everything,” coach Wright added. “We need to be able to back this up.”
Wright emphasized taking advantage of scoring opportunities entering this weekend. While Maryland ranks fifth in hits in the Big Ten with 67, its 12th in runs scored (22). The Terps’ win against Florida marks the second game of nine this year in which they scored four runs or more.
Maryland employs a small-ball mentality on offense that can lead to big innings, such as the three-run fourth inning versus the Gators. Martin said the team talks about “UTM,” referring to its batters trying to hit the ball up the middle.
On the mound, the Terps are 12th in the conference with a 6.63 team ERA. Florida marks the only opponent they’ve limited to less than three runs. Maryland’s 17 errors, meanwhile, rank last in the Big Ten.
If those areas can improve, Wright said, the consistency will follow.
“We just need solid pitching with an ERA under three. That keeps us right there,” Wright said. “And defense needs to play much better. And really, honestly, if we just focus pitch to pitch and try to win the pitch and win the moment, we’ll be just fine.”
