For the second straight game, Maryland softball’s bats were alive, racking up 16 hits and nine runs against Furman on Friday after notching 13 hits and 10 runs against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
That effort — combined with clean pitching from Courtney Wyche that kept the Paladins to just two hits while she was in the circle — helped the Terps win their first game of the Eagle Round Robin Tournament against Furman, 9-2.
[Read more: Maryland softball’s Taylor Okada is back from injury and ready to make an impact]
Maryland got on the board in the first inning. A single from infielder Taylor Okada followed by a stolen base and a throwing error put her on third base. Infielder Anna Kufta hit a sacrifice fly and batted Okada in to put the Terps in the lead early, 1-0. A double from infielder Taylor Liguori, a walk for catcher Gracie Voulgaris and a single for outfielder Taylor Wilson on catcher’s interference loaded the bases for the Terps.
Outfielder Amanda Brashear took advantage, singling through the left side to help Maryland end the inning up 2-0.
The Terps extended their lead in the second frame. Outfielder JoJo McRae singled down the left-field line and stole second. Infielder Regan Kerr flashed her patented speed with a single and a stolen base before Okada drove both home. Voulgaris then singled down the left-field line, batting Okada in to push the Terps ahead 5-0.
Both teams went scoreless in the third frame, but each scored in the fourth. Kufta singled and advanced to second and third on wild pitches. Liguori doubled to left-center and sent Kufta home to push the advantage to 6-0.
[Read more: Maryland softball’s bats come alive in 10-9 comeback win over Pittsburgh]
The Paladins answered back, though, loading the bases in the bottom half. A single from infielder Morgan Smith brought in Furman’s first runs of the game.
Neither team scored in the fifth frame, but Maryland struck again in the sixth. Kufta was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a ground out by Liguori. Wilson singled to right field and batted Kufta in to make the score 7-2.
In the seventh, the Terps’ bats did not let up. McRae tripled to right-center and Kerr singled, sending McRae home to put Maryland’s eighth run on the board. And Okada made it nine after bringing Kerr home with an RBI single.
The 9-2 win over Furman pushed Maryland to a 3-7 record on the season and marked the team’s first consecutive wins of the season. The Terps have a double-header against Monmouth and Evansville on Saturday.