By Eddie Hobbs
Maryland took on Ohio State on Saturday a day after losing to the Buckeyes 6-2 on Friday. The Terps couldn’t hold on in this one as Maryland dropped the contest 10-6. Maryland had Hannah Dewey in the circle today who was going up against a tough Ohio State team.
Maryland gave up a few early runs in the game. In the first inning, Dewey got two quick outs and looked to close out the inning. The Buckeyes had other plans, shortstop Lilli Piper hit a ball right between Terp’s third baseman Juli Strange and shortstop Anna Kufta. Emily Clark then stepped up to bat and hit a ball over the left field wall, Ohio State took the early lead 2-0.
In the top third, Ohio State third baseman Anna Kirk started off the inning with a homerun. Piper then proceeded to hit a shot over the center field wall, the lead for the Buckeyes was then pushed to 4-0.
Maryland would fight their way back into the game in the bottom of the third. Juli Strange walked and Skylynne Ellazar reached first on a fielder’s choice. Strange was able to make it to second since the shortstop couldn’t handle the ball from the second baseman. Kristina Dillard hit a ball past the shortstop and the ball rolled all the way to the left field wall, Strange and Ellazar scored and the lead was cut to 4-2. Hannah Dewey then hit a ball into the left field gap and drove Dillard home, 4-3 Buckeyes. Head Coach Julie Wright talked about what she says to some of the players to get them in the right mind set.
“We talked just about trusting what you do, and trust your training, that’s all it is,” Wright said. “This game can get complicated in your head, hitting is the hardest thing to do in sports. So when we can get them to simplify ‘see ball’ and ‘hit ball’, use the center of the field, that’s all were trying to do.”
Throughout the game Kassidy Cross made nice plays, whether it was diving around in the outfield for fly balls, or stepping up to the plate to deliver a big hit. She has been a key cog in the lineup for Maryland Softball. Coach Wright pointed out what the freshman did right today.
“I was really pleased with her effort, I told her today before the game,” Coach Wright said. “I said I need you to be a beast out there. Today is your day… Attack every ball defensively, make smart, intelligent plays out there. I thought she did a nice job, [made] great reads and handled her position really well, I was very pleased with her.”
Maryland wouldn’t go away in this game, as Kufta hit a line drive shot to the right field gap and put on the wheels as she reached third. With the Terps down one, Hannah Dewey was able to get a SAC fly to right field and drove in Kufta to tie the game up at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh.
We moved to the eigth inning and Maryland just wasn’t able to corral the hard hitting Buckeyes as Ohio State drove in five runs in the top of the frame. Madison Martin would hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the eight, but it wasn’t enough as Maryland dropped the contest 10-6.
Maryland plays their last game against Ohio State Sunday at 1 pm.
