By Cam Hasbrouck
Maryland’s Hannah Dewey tossed an eleven inning two-hitter on Saturday afternoon to lead the Terrapins past Penn State in Game 2 of the series.
After being blown out 10-3 by the Nittany Lions last night, the Terps earned a gutsy 2-1 extra-inning win to even the series.
Both pitchers, Dewey and Penn State’s Jessica Cummings, got off to great starts, retiring the first three batters in order, and allowing just one hit each through the first three innings.
After giving up a single in the second inning, Dewey kept Penn State hitless for eight and two-thirds innings before giving up her second hit in the eleventh inning.
Maryland had an opportunity to jump ahead in the third inning, when Sarah Cross reached on an error, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, she was left stranded when Amanda Brashear flew out to center to end the inning.
Penn State broke the ice in the fourth inning, jumping out to a 1-0 lead. Tori Dubois led off theinning by reaching third on an error by right-fielder Sarah Calta. She was then brought across by a Shelby Miller sac fly. Calta went on to make a spectacular running catch later in the inning to prevent further damage.
Maryland tied things up in the fifth inning, when Kristina Dillard unleashed a solo home run (her third of the season) to left field to tie the game at one.
Still tied at 1-1 in the seventh inning, Penn State threatened to jump ahead, loading the bases despite not getting a hit (hitters reached base on a walk and two errors). But, Dewey forced Penn State’s leadoff hitter, Rebecca Ziegler, to fly out to end the inning.
Maryland answered right back in the bottom of the inning with an opportunity of their own, when Dewey and Kufta reached first and second base, respectively, with just one out. Cummings struck out back-to-back hitters to send the game to extras.
The teams traded scoreless innings in extras until the eleventh inning, when the Terps finally closed it out. Skylynne Ellazar reached base on a single, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs in the eleventh, Anna Kufta drove a single into right field, knocking in Ellazar to win it.
After the game, Dewey discussed her outstanding performance in the circle.
“I was just taking it pitch by pitch, not trying to look at the game as an entire game, but look at it kind of moment to moment,” Dewey said.
Maryland head coach Julie Wright was thrilled with Dewey’s pitching.
“Hannah Dewey was brilliant,” Wright said. “I thought she threw the best game of her career probably. I was extremely impressed with how she just took it pitch by pitch, moment to moment.”
Despite very hot temperatures and the need for extra innings, Wright said she never wanted to take Dewey out of the circle, as long as she felt good enough to pitch.
“I just checked with her every inning,” Wright said. “There was nothing she was doing out on that mound, or showing me, that looked like she wasn’t strong and ready to finish.”
Wright also praised shortstop Anna Kufta for her bounce-back game. Wright said that Kufta was unhappy with her performance yesterday, and went out after last night’s game to work on her hitting.
Her work paid off, as she drove in the walk-off run in the eleventh inning to seal the victory.
“It was a good feeling – definitely something that I’m not going to forget,” Kufta said.
The Terps square off with Penn State tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the series.
