Wildcats Comeback Falls One Run Shy Of Terrapins, 5-4

4/9/2017 2:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern nearly overcame a disastrous second inning Sunday that saw Maryland plate five runs, but the Wildcats were unable to cash in on bases-loaded situations in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings during a 5-4 loss to the Terrapins at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

Northwestern falls to 15-20 on the year with its loss, 3-6 in the B1G. NU took the series over Maryland, 2-1.

Northwestern is back in action at 4 p.m. CT Wednesday, April 12, in a midweek non-conference contest at Loyola (Chicago).

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Like each of the previous two games in the series, this one got underway with a flurry. Northwestern scored the first run in the bottom of the first with a two-out rally started by a Marissa Panko single and finished by an Anna Petersen RBI double.

The top of the second could not have gone worse for the Wildcats, however. Maryland plated five runs on four hits and three NU errors. Midway through the inning, Nicole Bond entered the circle in relief of starter Kenzie Ellis, stranding one inherited runner.

The Terrapins threatened to extend their edge in the third, loading the bases with two outs before Bond got a strikeout to keep it a 5-1 contest.

The Wildcats began their comeback in earnest with a three-run bottom of the third. Sabrina Rabin walked to lead off the inning and remained on base with two outs. That's when Petersen sent a line drive into what used to be the left field bleachers for a two-run home run. Morgan Nelson followed with a double off the very top of the outfield fence before scoring when Brooke Marquez singled back through the middle, cutting NU's deficit all the way down to a single run, 5-4.

Petersen's home run was her sixth of the year and her fourth in Big Ten play. She now has eight homers in her NU career.

The Wildcats continued to press in the bottom of the fourth against a new Maryland pitcher, Madison Martin. Alcy Bush was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame before the senior Bond recorded the first base hit of her collegiate career to push Bush to second. Krista Williams sacrificed both up a bag, but Martin got a full-count swinging strike to end the inning with the Terrapins still on top.

NU loaded the bases again in the fifth, this time with one out. Maryland was able to get a force at the plate, then another swinging K to end the frame with three more #B1GCats left on.

In the sixth, it was much the same story. With two outs, Panko singled, Petersen singled and Nelson walked to load the bags. For the third-straight inning, Martin recorded a strikeout to keep NU from knotting the score.

Northwestern's pitching meanwhile kept it a one-run game. After Bond's 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, Morgan Newport threw 2.0 frames of shutout ball. In the seventh, NU lined out twice and was unable to complete its comeback.

Ellis (3-7) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks with a strikeout in 1.1 innings.

Petersen had another tremendous game, finishing a triple short of the cycle in a 3-for-3 performance with a walk and three RBIs.