COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland pitcher Kendra Knight was too much for the Delaware State softball team to handle Wednesday as the senior struck out 24 batters as the Terps routed the Hornets, 15-0 and 10-5, in a non-conference doubleheader.
Knight threw a no-hitter in game one and allowed just two walks in addition to 12 strikeouts. She gave up her first and only hit of the afternoon in the top of the sixth inning in game two as sophomore Ashlyn Campbell (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) singled through the right side for the Hornets.
Maryland (29-18) took charge early, scoring six runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning of game one. Sophomore pitcher Samantha Gross (Glasgow, Del.) settled down over the next two innings, allowing just one hit in the second and third. The Terps went on a roll again in the fourth inning, scoring nine runs on 10 hits to mercy-rule Del State (19-16-1).
Knight continued her dominance into game two, striking out five of the first six DSU batters.
The runs came easy for the Terrapins once again in the first inning as Maryland scored four runs on four hits and one error to take the advantage. They continued in the second, scoring four runs on five hits to go up, 8-0.
Maryland junior Lexi Carroll came in to replace Knight in the top of the fourth inning of game two and the Hornets quickly jumped on the scoreboard. Sophomore Stephanie Martello (Oxnard, Calif.) led off the frame with a double to right center and scored as senior Breanne Parr (Camarillo, Calif.) followed with a triple down the right field line.
Three of the four next batters for Delaware State each reached on a single to load the bases for freshman slugger Bria Green (Wheatley Heights, N.Y.). Once again, Green came through in the clutch and smashed a triple to right center to pull the Hornets within four at 9-5. The Maryland coaching staff saw enough from Carroll at that point and returned Knight to the pitcher's circle. As was the case all day, Knight struck out the next batter to end the half inning.
The Terps tagged on one more run in the bottom of the fourth to post the eventual final score of 10-5.
Campbell was the lone DSU batter to record multiple hits on the day with two.
The Hornets return to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this weekend as they travel to Washington, D.C. to take on host Howard University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. single game on Sunday.
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