The Maryland softball offense opened the 2023 season in flames. The Terps scored five runs in the explosive first inning of their matchup against No. 22 Oregon, and it was smooth sailing from there.

Maryland started the season in impressive fashion with a 7-3 victory over the Ducks in the first game of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico. This was their first season opener victory over a ranked opponent since 2008. 

The Terps pounced on the Ducks’ starting pitcher Stevie Hansen and knocked her out of the game after less than an inning.

Maryland pitcher Courtney Wyche recorded her first win of the year. She pitched 5.2 innings, and the Ducks produced three runs, eight hits and four strikeouts with Wyche at the mound. 

The Terps’ other star pitcher, Trinity Schlotterbeck, played right field. She anchored the offense by hitting 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. 

Several freshmen contributed to the win during their debuts for Maryland. Sydney Lewis, Madison Runyan and Sammi Woods all recorded hits, and Keira Bucher earned the save in a scoreless relief effort. 

Oregon collected nine hits compared to Maryland’s seven, but the Ducks failed to capitalize, stranding five runners on base. 

The Terps’ bats produced early in the bottom of the first inning. 

Hansen found herself in a jam after she walked three out of the first four batters she faced to load the bases. 

She then proceeded to walk Mackense Greico to drive in the first run of the game. 

The inning didn’t get any easier after that for Hansen. Schlotterbeck smacked a single up the middle to drive in two more runs. 

Runyan, in the first at-bat of her collegiate career, popped a ball up into shallow right field that a diving Kedre Luschar failed to catch. 

Ruryan turned the hit into a double that knocked in two more runs. The Ducks were finally able to get out of the inning after Hansen was replaced with Elise Sokolsky, but Maryland already plated five in the frame.

Maryland added further to their lead in the second inning when they confused Oregon on a double steal attempt, allowing Megan Mikami to steal home and put the Terps up 6-0.

The Ducks got one run back in the top of the third when they also scored on a double steal. 

Oregon loaded up the bases in the top of the sixth inning and then scored a run off a passed ball that skipped off catcher Kiley Goff’s glove. 

This was a rare mistake for the catcher, who threw out three runners attempting to steal.

A Luschar single in the next at-bat drove in another Oregon run, prompting Wyche’s removal from the game.

Sydney Lewis reached base on a single in her first collegiate at-bat in the bottom of the sixth. She drove in Schlotterbeck to extend Maryland’s lead to 7-3.

Bucher closed out the game to give the Terps the win. 
Maryland will continue its Mexican adventure against Brigham Young University on Friday.