Fresh off its largest win of the season over Rider, Maryland softball opened the second game of its doubleheader with a run in the first inning against Georgia Southern.

Starting pitcher Julia Shearer allowed no runs through the first three innings against the Eagles (12-8), but three consecutive poor innings ended the Terps’ (8-11) chances at a sweep on Friday. The sophomore hit Kyla Maxwell in the shoulder with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, which tied the game at 1-1.

Shearer then allowed a run in the fifth and sixth innings, which fueled Georgia Southern’s 3-1 win. Maryland’s offense, after recording nine hits against Rider, managed just one run in the later game.

Aubrey Wurst pitched a complete game against Rider (3-10), the second of her career. The freshman struck out nine batters to tie her career high and allowed just two hits in the shutout.

Wurst has struggled at times this season, allowing three or more runs in five outings. But she’s pitched well recently; the freshman struck out four batters against West Georgia two weeks ago and shut down the Broncos’ offense on Friday.

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Maryland’s offense also played its best game of the season against Rider. Sam Bean doubled to center field in the second for the Terps’ first hit. The graduate student is batting .313 at the plate after missing the entire 2024 season due to injury.

The Terps capitalized on their scoring opportunities against Rider. Maryland scored five runs in the fourth inning and batted through the entire lineup.

Shortstop Sammi Woods started the inning with a solo home run. Five more hits in the inning, including a Bailey Murphy triple, pushed the Terps lead to 7-0. Murphy’s .429 batting average ranks 13th in the Big Ten.

Maryland added two runs in the fifth to put Rider in danger of a mercy rule. The Terps’ defense prevented the Broncs from a comeback effort, making zero errors. Rider’s offense never made it further than second base safely.

The nine-run win was Maryland’s largest margin of victory of the season and its second mercy rule win in four contests.

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The Terps’ offensive spark continued early in the second game of the day against Georgia Southern (11-8). Sydney Lewis drove in the game’s first run and finished with two hits against the Eagles.

But Maryland’s offense fizzled out after the opening frame. The Terps registered just three hits in the final five innings.

Mental mistakes cost the Terps in the fourth. Catcher Sam Bean threw to second on a walk, which awarded the Eagles a free advancement on the base paths. Shearer walked four batters and hit another to award Georgia Southern its first run before being pulled out of the game.

The Eagles then stole bases in both the fifth and sixth innings to move into scoring position. A single in the fifth and a flyout in the sixth sent the two runners home to grant Georgia Southern a 3-1 victory.

The Terps will play two more games against Rider and Georgia Southern on Saturday, before opening Big Ten play against Rutgers on March 14.