photo courtesy of Mark Campbell

Boxscore

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Kathy McLaughlin hit a two-run double with two outs in the top of the seventh inning as the host Terrapins came back to defeat Delaware, 4-3, Saturday afternoon in the Maryland Invitational.

Maryland, which improved to 12-10, struck first by scoring a run in the top of the second inning. With one out Michelle Takeda was hit by a pitch, and after she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lydia Fowler, Takeda scored on a single to centerfield by Devon Williams.

McLaughlin led off the top of the sixth inning with a triple to leftcenter, but she was thrown out at third when Niki Lau hit a groundball back to UD pitcher Amanda Stacevicz. However Lau then went to second on a groundout and scored on a double to rightcenter by Kerry Hickey to give Maryland a 2-0 lead.

The Blue Hens, who fell to 2-6 on the season, did not have a baserunner through the first five innings off Terrapins pitcher Sarah Dooley but mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. With one out Cecile Egan singled to leftcenter, and Lindsay Novak following by beating out an infield single.

Dooley then struck out Katie DeSalvo for the second out of the inning, but pinch hitter Shanette White (at right) drilled a double to rightcenter, driving home Egan and Novak to tie the game at 2-2. Abbie Surosky then replaced White at second base, and she came around to score the go-ahead run when Quinn Megargel singled into leftfield.

Stacevicz then retired the first two Terrapins in the top of the seventh, but Williams walked and went to second on a single to center by Alex Schultz. McLaughlin then doubled down the leftfield line, as Williams and Schultz scored to put Maryland on top 4-3.

Dooley retired the Blue Hens in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Terrapins hung on for the victory. Dooley improved to 4-5 after allowing three runs on four hits while striking out eight Blue Hens and not walking a batter. Stacevicz dropped to 0-4 after giving up four earned runs on six hits and posting three strikeouts.

Delaware was scheduled to play Mount St. Mary’s Saturday at 7 p.m., but the game was canceled due to rain. The Blue Hens will continue action Sunday at the Maryland Invitational by facing Fordham at 11 a.m. and Howard at 1 p.m.