PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers softball opened the Maryland series at the RU Softball Complex by returning to the win column with a 3-1 victory but the Terps evened the series at 1-1 downing the Scarlet Knights 5-0 in game two on Friday.

In game one, Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, but Rutgers powered back with three runs in the sixth for the win snapping a four-game losing streak.

Game two saw the Terps jump out to an early lead and use back-to-back home runs in the third to extend its advantage.

Rutgers 3, Maryland 1

STANDOUT STATS

• It was a big game for the seniors playing in their finale home series as Kiana Workman posted her first home run of the season to kick off the come-back. Hailey Hoklotubbe scored the go-ahead run and Anyssa Iliopoulos's sacrifice fly pushed in an insurance run.
• Workman finished the opener 1-for-2, while Leilani Chavez added a hit appearing as a pinch hitter.
• Sophomore Ashley Hitchcock earned her fifth win going the distance for the fifth time this season. She fanned five marking the second-most strikeouts by the right-hander in 2021 and most since Mar. 28.
   

THE RUNDOWN

• Taylor Lane had a hand in keeping the Terps off the scoreboard in the second getting the ball to catcher Kiersten Withstandley to stop two potential runs.
• Maryland took a 1-0 edge in the fourth Campbell Kline kept the ball just inside the right field foul pole for a solo home run.
• The Scarlet Knight comeback came in the sixth. Workman led off taking an 0-1 count over the fence in right-center to tie up the contest. RU proceeded to load the bases allowing Withstandley to send home a run after getting hit by a pitch. On the next at-bat, Iliopoulos flew out to center, but the fly ball allowed Payton Lincavage to tag up from third for the 3-1 lead.

HIGHLIGHTS

 

Maryland 5, Rutgers 0

STANDOUT STATS

• Graduate student Gabrielle Callaway and freshman Leilani Chavez were each 1-for-3, while freshman Kayla Bock also added a hit pinch hitting in the bottom of the seventh.
• Graduate student Izzy Berouty garnered the start with sophomore Jaden Vickers throwing the final four innings catching three Terps on strikes.

THE RUNDOWN

• A sacrifice fly by Michaela Jones put Maryland up 1-0 in the top of the first.
• The Terps extended their lead with consecutive home runs in the third. Jones added three more RBIs to her total on her shot to left while Megan Mikami went to right on the following at-bat.
• Rutgers put runners into scoring position in the fourth and seventh, but the Scarlet Knights were unable to advance them to thwart the shutout.

UP NEXT

Rutgers softball plays the Terps again on Saturday at 11 a.m.

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