Julia Shearer’s thrown more than 45 innings and pitched four complete games this season for Maryland softball. The sophomore also has 39 at-bats — but entered this weekend batting a team-worst .143.
Despite Maryland’s three consecutive wins, coach Lauren Karn inserted Shearer into the No. 8 spot in the lineup this weekend. It didn’t work out against Michigan — Maryland scored two combined runs on Thursday and Friday. But the change finally paid off against Purdue on Saturday.
Maryland defeated Purdue 8-1, its second-highest total against a high-major opponent this season. The Terps (14-14, 3-3 Big Ten) tallied 11 hits including three home runs, two of which came from catcher Sam Bean.
Shearer drove in the first two runs of the game with a pop-up that fell between the Boilermakers shortstop and left fielder in the second inning. While she finished the game 0-4, she scored a run.
[Maryland softball opens weekend with 8-0 loss to Michigan in five innings]
The No. 8 spot in the batting order has been split all season between Shearer, Taylor Borovac, and Mariah Penta. The sophomore came into the weekend batting .143, worse than her two competitors.
And although Shearer went hitless in the first two games, Karn stuck with her decision. Facing one of the better pitching units in the Big Ten, Maryland’s offense exploded.
Graduate student Mazie MacFarlane helped lead that effort for her young team. Macfarlane went 2-4 against Purdue (16-14, 1-5) and is having a second straight highlight weekend. Her potential third hit was robbed by Jordyn Ramos in center field.
MacFarlane entered the day with a .360 batting average, ranking second on the roster behind Bailey Murphy. The center fielder matched had a pair of putouts along with her two hits.
Bean, a fellow graduate student, paired with MacFarlane to take the lead. Both of Bean’s homers were two-run shots.
[Maryland softball allows season-low 1 hit in 9-0 win over Colgate]
The two homers cleared the fence with ease. Bean’s fourth and fifth home runs of the season rank second on the team.
Maryland’s offensive domination countered another defensive-miscue-filled game. The Terps allowed another four errors — a joint season-high — in the matchup, bringing their weekend total to eight.
But Bean coupled her two home runs with a pair of defensive highlights. The catcher threw out star Purdue sophomore Moriah Polar twice while stealing
Polar — second in the Big Ten in stolen bases —
was tagged out twice by Sammi Woods after strong throws from the catcher. The Terps also turned two double plays, including one from Shearer in the outfield.
Bri Godfrey recovered from her rough showing against Michigan with a complete game. The 5-run outing against the Wolverines was the only time she’s allowed multiple runs in her last five starts.
Her shutout on Saturday was robbed in the bottom of the seventh after two errors from her defense let runners on. A flyout to center field scored one of them.
