Maryland
Northwestern softball sweeps Maryland
Padding its undefeated home streak and lead over the Big Ten field, Northwestern swept Maryland in a three-game weekend series.
The Wildcats (26-8, 12-1 Big Ten) extended their home winning streak to 36 games — the longest active streak of any Division 1 squad — en route to securing a two-game advantage in the conference standings.
With 10 regular season contests remaining, NU has won 18 of its last 19 games and has won seven consecutive matchups.
The ’Cats’ pitching staff shined, limiting the Terrapins (17-24, 4-10 Big Ten) to six runs all weekend — the fewest number of runs Maryland has scored in a conference series this year. Graduate student pitcher Ashley Miller led the effort on the mound, picking up her sixth and seventh Big Ten wins.
Among NU’s offensive leaders, freshman infielder Ainsley Muno shone, punching in five runs and hitting a grand slam on Saturday.
Senior infielder Hannah Cady collected four RBIs of her own. Though Cady’s bat had been quiet in conference play, recording just five hits prior to the weekend, the senior was a crucial part of NU’s lineup after opening scoring in two tight games on Friday and Sunday.
The ’Cats prevailed 5-4 in Friday’s game. Cady put NU on the board with a groundout that scored sophomore infielder Kansas Robinson.
Two scintillating sophomore sluggers extended the hosts’ lead in the bottom of the second. Sophomore infielder Bridget Donahey sent a solo shot to straightaway center. Later that inning, Robinson brought the score to 4-0 with a two-run home run, her career-high 10th bomb of the season.
Miller didn’t allow a Terrapin hit until the top of the fifth. While back-to-back Maryland doubles and a single up the middle cut the ’Cats’ lead in half during the sixth Miller dug deep, forcing three straight outs.
Junior outfielder Ayana Lindsey provided necessary insurance in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double.
In the top of the seventh, a Maryland RBI triple and throwing error by Cady made the score 5-4. With two runners on and one out, Miller again showed grit and forced two ground outs, securing NU’s victory. NU’s ace tossed seven innings, striking out four and allowing two runs.
Four ’Cats homered in Saturday’s run-rule 12-1 victory. The Terrapins opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double, but the lead was short-lived as NU’s offense soon took over.
Donahey scored on a throwing error, and sophomore outfielder Kelsey Nader followed up with a three-run dinger to put NU ahead by three.
The following inning, Cady and freshman catcher Emma Raye added to the home run tally with solo shots. Muno knocked a fielder’s choice for an RBI, and Robinson collected her 30th RBI of the season to make the score 8-1.
Muno sealed the deal in the fourth inning with a two-out grand slam hit off Welsh-Ryan Arena, electrifying the home crowd.
Graduate student pitcher Cami Henry and freshman pitcher Renae Cunningham split time on the mound to hold Maryland to four hits over five innings. Henry took the win in her first Big Ten start, throwing two innings and allowing one run. Cunningham tossed three hitless frames.
Despite neither Henry nor Cunningham recording a strikeout, defensive web gems kept the bases clear. Graduate outfielder Angela Zedak dove for a left field catch in the second inning, and six different ’Cats engineered a double play with two Terrapins in scoring position.
NU completed the sweep Sunday with a 2-1 win. Miller threw her second complete game of the series, allowing four hits and one run while striking out six.
In the first inning, Raye caught Maryland outfielder and Big Ten stolen base leader Jaeda McFarland stealing. During the bottom of the inning, Cady put the ’Cats up with a two-RBI double.
The Terrapins threatened NU’s lead with a fourth-inning RBI double. Miller responded with a strikeout, stranding a Maryland runner in scoring position. A one-run lead was all Miller and the ’Cats needed to seal the weekend finale victory.
NU will look to protect its undefeated home streak on Tuesday against Illinois.
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Maryland will launch a study to analyze the economic impacts of climate change to determine the costs associated with storm damage and health outcomes.
The move is part of the Moore-Miller administration’s strategic approach to investing in a clean energy economy and modernizing the state’s energy infrastructure.
“While the federal government has spent the past year rolling back climate protections and driving up energy costs, Maryland is taking a responsible step toward understanding the true price tag of climate change,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “This study will give us a clear, data-driven look at the real burden taxpayers are shouldering as climate change drives more extreme and costly weather events.”
The RENEW Act Study will be funded by investments and state sources, including $30,000 from philanthropic funding and $470,000 from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, to assess the burden that Marylanders are paying due to intense weather events and environmental shifts.
Marylanders on climate change
The announcement comes months after Maryland lawmakers opposed a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recind its 2009 endangerment finding, which determined that greenhouse gases were a danger to public health.
Lawmakers raised concerns that the move would mean engine and vehicle manufacturers would not be required to measure, control or report greenhouse gas emissions. They also raised concerns that the decision could impact climate change and harm local communities.
The EPA said it intended to retain regulations for pollutant and toxic air measurement and standards. In September, the agency initiated the formal process to reconsider the finding.
In March, a Johns Hopkins University poll found that nearly 73% of surveyed Baltimore City and County residents were concerned that climate change would affect them.
According to the study, city residents were more concerned about personal harm from climate change than county residents. However, county residents expected to see higher costs in the next five years due to climate change.
About 70% of Baltimore area residents believe climate change will increase costs for homeowners and businesses in the next five years, the study found.
An April report ranked the Washington/Baltimore/Arlington region as the 36th worst in the country and second worst in the mid-Atlantic region for ozone smog. The report graded Baltimore County an “F” for ozone smog.
WBFF — A Powerball ticket sold in Lanham has made one lucky player $1 million richer following Wednesday night’s drawing.
The ticket, which matched all five white balls but missed the red Powerball, is one of three significant wins in Maryland from the Dec. 10 drawing. The other two winning tickets include a $150,000 prize in Hughesville and a $50,000 prize in Bel Air.
The $1 million ticket was purchased at the 7-Eleven located at 7730 Finns Lane in Lanham, Prince George’s County.
Meanwhile, the $150,000 ticket, which included the Power Play option, was sold at the Jameson-Harrison American Legion Post 238 in Hughesville, Charles County.
The $50,000 ticket was bought at Klein’s Shoprite on North Main Street in Bel Air, Harford County.
None of these winning tickets have been claimed yet, and the Maryland Lottery is urging winners to sign their tickets and store them safely. Prizes over $25,000 must be claimed by appointment at Lottery headquarters within 182 days of the drawing date.
The Powerball jackpot, which has not been won since Sept. 6, has now rolled over to an estimated annuity value of $1 billion, with a cash option of $461.3 million for the next drawing on Saturday night. This marks the seventh-largest jackpot since Powerball began in 1992.
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For more details on the winning tickets and other information, visit the Maryland Lottery’s website.
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