When pitcher Ryan Denhart transferred to Grand Canyon University this offseason, she left a significant void in Maryland softball’s pitching circle.

To compensate for losing Denhart’s 145 2/3 innings, coach Julie Wright is featuring five hurlers early in the campaign. All of them got a chance to see significant game action on opening weekend.

The Terps left the Trojan Classic with just two wins — both over Murray State — in five games. Still, Wright is grateful for the experience new players gained during the tournament and hopes her pitchers can carry their progress into next weekend.

“It was just great game experience for all of them,” Wright said. “All those things they can take into next weekend, that’s going to make them and us better.”

[Read more: Maryland softball closes Trojan Classic with walk-off 3-2 win over Murray State]

For most of the tournament, the Terps relied on mid-game pitching changes in the hopes of keeping their arms fresh and their opponents off-balance.

In some contests, the rotations didn’t make much of a difference — Troy and No. 9 Alabama shellacked the Terps on Saturday. But in Maryland’s season-opening win over Murray State on Friday, a pitching change helped to limit the Racers after they started off strong.

Senior Sami Main allowed a double and a single before an RBI single into right field brought Murray State within one in the fourth inning.

Victoria Galvan then took to the pitcher’s circle for the first time as a Terp, and the South Carolina transfer helped shut down the Racers’ offense. Galvan allowed only two hits and held Murray State scoreless over the final three innings.

[Read more: Maryland softball goes 0-2 on second day of Trojan Classic tournament]

“It’s a huge part of our team this year,” infielder Bailey Boyd said. “All of our pitchers all bring something different, and when one of them isn’t doing their best out there, the next one is ready to come in and do everything they can.”

Fellow transfer Kiana Carr also made her debut for Maryland in the second Friday game against Troy. Carr, who won a conference title playing for Phoenix Community College, switched in for senior Sydney Golden late in the game but pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless ball.

“Galvan throws hard and down, and Kiana can help us because she can elevate the ball,” Wright said. “They just bring such a different look that it’s really giving our pitches that great depth.”

Golden, having pitched in 31 games last season, has the most experience in the circle. After allowing seven runs in the Terps’ 10-0 loss to Alabama, Golden finished the weekend on a high note when she closed out a 3-2 win in eight innings against Murray State.

Maryland’s pitching reserve also includes freshman Amelia Jarecke, who saw her first action Saturday in the Terps’ losses to Alabama and Troy.

Despite the large deficits in each game, Jarecke didn’t allow a hit or a run in her two innings of play. Wright said she still has a lot of growing to do before she hits her full potential.

Though the Terps were able to get each of its pitchers experience this weekend, there are obvious areas where Wright hopes to see improvement.

“We know we need to walk [fewer] people,” Wright said. “Once you stop giving free bases, they’re all going to become much more effective.”

The Terps walked a total of 22 hitters, including nine free passes against Alabama. But Wright expects that number to decrease as the new pitchers see more batters and gain more experience.

As the season progresses, having a multitude of options to call into the circle will be a valuable asset for Maryland, especially after losing Denhart.

“We’re going to be able to keep teams on their toes,” infielder Anna Kufta said. “They all do a really good job at working off one another.”