COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Illinois softball (12-32, 2-13 Big Ten) fell to Maryland on Friday night, 5-1, at Maryland Softball Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Illini were retired in order in the opening frame, and Maryland started the scoring, with Sammi Woods reaching on an error and Bailey Murphy advancing her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Mariah Penta recorded a base hit and Matti Benson was walked to load the bases. An RBI single from Zayda Rocke, RBI groundout from Anna McGowan, and two-RBI double from Caroline Fox gave Maryland a 4-0 advantage.
Both teams went three up, three down in the second inning.
In the third frame, Washington D.C. native Delaney Mosley notched the first base hit for the Fighting Illini, with Ava Moore reaching behind her on a fielder's choice. A single from Alaina Miller pushed Moore into scoring position, but the final pair of outs were recorded before the Illini could plate a run.
The Terrapins loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, as Penta was walked and Benson and Rocke notched base hits. Fox was walked to plate a fifth run, but Illinois made a play at the plate and Karley Yergler notched a strikeout to finish the inning.
Eileen Donahue led off the fourth frame with her tenth home run of the year, launching the third pitch she saw to left field. Keirys Click and Ella Cushing were both hit by pitch, and Ady Kiddy tallied a single to load the bases, but a final strikeout prevented Illinois from tallying any additional runs.
The final three frames passed scoreless, and Maryland took the 5-1 victory in game one of the series.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Delaney Mosley was 1-for-2 at the plate, recording her 16th hit of the year.
- Alaina Miller was also 1-for-2 at the plate, adding her 18th hit of the season and second hit in as many games.
- Eileen Donahue was 1-for-3 at the plate, tallying a solo home run for Illinois' lone RBI of the day.
- Donahue now leads the team with 10 HR on the season.
- Ady Kiddy was 1-for-3 at the plate, recording her second hit in as many games.
- Kiddy has now logged 15 hits on the season.
- Karley Yergler went the distance in the circle, notching three strikeouts and conceding one earned run in her seventh complete game of the year.
- Keirys Click was hit by pitch for the ninth time this season, tying her for ninth all-time in program history, alongside five other players.
UP NEXT
Illinois and Maryland return to Maryland Softball Stadium for game two of the series on Saturday, April 18. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. CT, with streaming on B1G+.
