Maryland softball starter Sami Main cruised through the first three innings against Iowa on Saturday. She allowed only two hits, struck out two and did not issue a walk.

“We needed that desperately,” coach Julie Wright said. “Sydney [Golden] and Ryan [Denhart] have been carrying the load and we felt like this was a good matchup for Sami. She came in prepared and she did her job.”

Main entered the fourth with a 2-0 lead, but the Hawkeyes struck back to tie the game with a solo home run, a single and an RBI triple. The three hits knocked Main out of the game, forcing Wright to turn to Denhart out of the bullpen.

A stellar showing from Denhart and a late rally by the Terps clinched a 5-2 win that gave the program its second straight Big Ten series triumph. It’s the first time that’s happened since Maryland joined the Big Ten.

Main was making just her second start of the year, with her first coming against Middle Tennessee on Feb. 11. While she got a no decision on Saturday — as she did against the Blue Raiders — the Terps advanced to 2-0 when she starts.

Denhart allowed just two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings of relief while striking out three. She mixed her fastball and changeup well, keeping the Hawkeyes off balance.

The Terps took a 2-0 lead in the first inning behind four hits and two steals. Catcher Anna Kufta and infielder Brigette Nordberg, who combined to help the Terps walk off on Friday, provided the runs with each hitting an RBI single.

Maryland (14-20, 4-1 Big Ten) took the lead for good in the fourth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by outfielder Destiney Henderson. The Terps added two more runs on a single by infielder Skylynne Ellazar to give Denhart insurance.

“We’ve been working a lot in practice on getting the job done in pressure situations,” Ellazar said.

Shortstop Mikayla Werahiko continued her solid weekend, reaching base three times with two singles and a hit-by-pitch. Werahiko has led off both games, a shift from her normal spot near the bottom of the order.

“Being the number one batter, my main goal is to get on base any way I can,” Werahiko said.

“I look brilliant putting her in the one spot,” Wright said. “I’ve been watching her at-bats the last two weekends and she’s been doing better and better. I’m super excited to see her flourishing.”

Werahiko also had a steal, two runs scored, and advanced on a passed ball in the first inning to set up Maryland’s first run.

“I’m just trying to use my speed to get around the bases,” Werahiko said, “but it definitely has to be the right time and place to steal.”

After running into three outs on Friday, the Terps had a much better game on the bases, with three steals, two runners advancing on a wild pitch and a runner scoring from first on a ball in the gap. Iowa (15-16, 1-3 Big Ten) has struggled controlling the running game all year, as they are last in the Big Ten with 60 steals allowed on 64 attempts.

The win continued the Terps’ best-ever Big Ten start.