Indiana Softball started their 3-game series against Maryland, on Sunday night in a rainy 7 PM game.
The Terrapins started strong against the Hoosiers with a Homerun from Sydney Lewis, in the first, bringing in 2 and giving Maryland the early lead. A sacrifice fly from Madison Runyan brought in Sam Bean, to extend their lead to 0-3.
Indiana quickly bounced back in the bottom half of the frame with a Double from Avery Parker that brought Brianna Copeland in, ending the 1st inning 1-3.
Brianna Copeland started the second inning on the mound but after walking 4 straight batters and giving up 1 run, Jasmine Reyes was brought in to finish out the frame, despite giving up 2 more runs to the Terrapins, a double play from shortstop and third got the Hoosiers out of the inning 6-3.
Back at-bat, a Deja vu moment with an Avery Parker RBI bringing in Copeland, helped the Hoosiers close the Terrapins’ lead. However, two more walks in the Top of the third extended Maryland’s lead to 4-8, shortly after the game was put into a rain delay.
The game resumed play at 10:15 PM, and the Hoosiers came back swinging with 15 runs in the bottom of the 4th, to gain the lead 19-8. Indiana put up one more run, while Maryland put up two more to end the game 20-10 in the fifth due to run rule.
These teams returned to Andy Mohr field at 10:30 am on Monday to start their doubleheader.
In the first game, Indiana returned freshman pitcher Jenae Berry to the mound as she got through her first frame in 1-2-3 outs. On the flip side of the inning, a Wilkison double brought Parker in to put the Hoosiers on the board 1-0.
The bottom of the third saw the next spring of action with another Wilkison double that brought in pinch-runner Peyton Drummond, advancing the game to 2-0.
The rest of the game saw close plays between the two teams, and many chances to score for the Terrapins. However, they couldn’t make anything out of it, and the Hoosiers took the second game of the series in a shutout, 2-0.
The third game of the series kicked off with a 12:45 PM start time and another 1-2-3 frame, with Copeland on the mound. Turning around the bats in the first inning, Taylor Minnick hit a home run that brought her and Copeland in, starting the game off 2-0 against Maryland.
The Terrapins were able to load the bases in the top of the second but an out at home and a tagged runner out ruined their chances to score. The Hoosiers also loaded up the bases, and took advantage of it, with a Copeland 2 Run RBI single, advancing the score to 4-0.
Despite a pitching change from Maryland, Indiana was able to gain one more run in the inning, when Madelyn Strader took home, from a passed ball by the catcher, 5-0.
The terrapins turned around at the top of the 3rd, where they were able to load their corners, with walks and stolen bases. A hit to right field brought in Bailey Murphy, 5-1. Another run came from a hit by Runyan to bring in Sammi Woods, 5-2.
The top of the 4th gave Maryland one more run, from a pair of doubles by Taylor Borovac and Mazie Macfarlane, 5-3. The next couple of innings were quick, with both teams battling to get another run. Indiana won that battle in the bottom of the 6th, with an RBI triple from Minnick to bring Strader in and end the game 6-3.
Indiana swept the series against Maryland, giving them some much-needed Big Ten conference play wins. The Hoosiers now stand at a 26-10 record, and 6-5 in conference play and will look to add another win when they take on Louisville on Wednesday at 6 PM at Andy Mohr Field.
