April 29, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Kelly Shipman pitched her 11th shutout of the season in game one and freshman Amanda Bettker pitched her fifth shutout of the season in game two to lead No. 23 Maryland to a college softball doubleheader sweep of George Mason at the North Fields Softball Complex. Maryland won game one, 3-0, and won game two, 5-0.
Maryland's record is now 43-19 while George Mason falls to 18-36. The Terps, who are the top seed in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, are ranked 23rd in the latest USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Poll and have won 11 of their last 13 games.
Shipman struck out five batters and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of game one as she upped her record to 25-11. She retired 18 of the first 21 batters she faced before allowing the first two George Mason batters in the top of the seventh to reach base via singles. She did not walk a batter, hit two and one reached on an error. Shipman lowered her ERA on the season to 0.93.
Maryland scored its' three runs in the sixth inning with Shipman scoring what proved to be the game-winning run. Shipman reached base on an error by the Patriot shortstop to lead off the inning. She reached third on an error by George Mason's catcher and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jennifer Potzman. Freshman Kiesha Pickeral and junior Cortney Madea also added RBI hits during the inning.
Bettker was masterful in the second game as she struck out nine and retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced. She allowed single hits in the first, third and fourth innings and a walk in the fifth as she gained her 12th victory of the season.
Pickeral had two RBI in game two with a run-scoring single in the first inning and her third home run of the season in the sixth. The Terps also scored three runs without the benefit of a hit in the fifth inning.
Patriot starter Lisa Davis struck out two and allowed only three earned runs as she absorbed the game two loss. Juniors Nicole Belote and Ercia Ayers and freshman Regan Keister each had hits in game two for the Patriots.
Maryland travels to play No. 22 South Florida Sunday at 1 p.m. in Tampa.
Game No. 1 123 456 7 R H E
George Mason 000 000 0 0 2 4
Maryland 000 003 X 3 5 1
JoAnna Sanders and Dee Dee Fox. Kelly Shipman and Sarah Putnam. Winning Pitcher - Shipman (25-11). Losing Pitcher -
Sanders (9-15). Doubles: Cortney Madea (M), Kiesha Pickeral (M). Triples: None. Home Runs: None.
Game No. 2 123 456 7 R H E
George Mason 000 000 0 0 3 2
Maryland 100 031 X 5 7 0
Lisa Davis and Dee Dee Fox. Amanda Bettker and Beth Radford. Winning Pitcher - Bettker (12-7). Losing Pitcher - Davis (7-18). Doubles: Nicole Belote (GM), Jennifer Potzman (M). Triples: None. Home Runs: Kiesha Pickeral (M).
