URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, IL – Maryland continued to make its case for an NCAA Tournament berth with a 8-1 win over Illinois this afternoon. In their second to last regular season game, the Terps overtook the Illini thanks to strong offensive production and a dominant performance by Trinity Schlotterbeck on both sides of the ball.
Maryland advanced to 35-16 (10-11 BIG) while Illinois dropped to 28-25 (6-15 BIG). With their 35th win, the Terps secured the program’s best record since 2011, when the team won 40 games.
On top of a complete game in the circle, Schlotterbeck delivered a career-high four hits in the batter’s box. The senior only allowed four Illini hits and spun seven strikeouts in her eighth complete game of the season. On offense, Schlotterbeck finished with three RBIs.
Mackense Greico also dominated on the offensive end with two hits, four runs scored, one RBI, and a solo home run. Both Jaeda McFarland and Michaela Jones achieved multi-hit games of their own. Jones also had an RBI, along with an RBI by Amelia Lech. The team finished with eleven total hits and eight stolen bases from seven different players.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Terps got on the board in the top of the second, scoring one run off of three hits and three stolen bases. Greico led it off with a single before advancing on an Illinois wild pitch. Then a Schlotterbeck single put Greico in position to touch home during Madison Runyan’s following at-bat. Runyan and Jones both had stolen bases this inning, but they couldn’t convert for more Terp runs.
- After allowing a lead-off single in the second, Schlotterbeck bounced back with two straight swinging strikeouts. The catcher Kiley Goff then caught an Illinois runner stealing for the third out of the stanza.
- Maryland added three runs in a third inning two-out rally. After walks by Sydney Lewis, Greico, and Lech to load the bases, Schlotterbeck smashed a ball to left field, driving in Lewis’ pinch runner Kamryn Davis and Greico. Runyan was hit by a pitch in the following at-bat to reload the bases for Jones, who slapped an RBI single to score Lech.
- The Illini answered in the bottom of the third with one run off an RBI double. With Illinois runners at second and third, the shortstop Sammi Woods caught a line drive and quickly flipped it to Jones at third for the final two outs of the inning.
- Maryland’s defense carried this momentum into the next inning, putting out three straight Illinois batters.
- Greico slapped a solo homer to center field in the top of the fifth, upping the score to 5-1.
- The Terps kept rolling on offense in the sixth, scoring three more runs. Lech hit a sacrifice fly to left, allowing Goff to score. Schlotterbeck followed with a RBI single to score Greico and McFarland.
Numbers To Know
- 3: Maryland achieved their third series win against tough Big Ten competition this season.
- 4: Schlotterbeck slapped four hits in this game, the most single game hit mark of her career.
- 4: This was Greico’s second four-run game of the season.
- 5: Greico launched her fifth home run of the season and her second of the weekend so far.
- 5: Schlotterbeck pulled off her fifth game with three or more RBIs of the season.
- 8: Jones had her eighth multi-hit game of the year.
- 10: Greico also notched her 10th multi-hit game of the season.
- 14: The senior Schlotterbeck earned her fourteenth win of the season in the circle.
- 15: Jaeda McFarland completed her 15th multi-hit game of the year.
- 28: Schlotterbeck recorded her 28th career complete game and eighth of the 2023 season.
Up Next
- The Terps will play their final regular game of the season on Sunday at 1 p.m. to finish out their series against Illinois. This game will be streamed live on B1G+.