March 28, 1999

MARIETTA, Ga. - Maryland advanced to the championship game of the Buzz Classic Softball Tournament with a 6-0 record before falling to No. 19 Southern Mississippi, 4-0, at Al Bishop Softball Complex Sunday. It marked the first time the Terps had advanced to the championship game of a regular season tournament in the five-year history of the program.

Maryland's record is now 26-16 while Southern Mississippi moves to 34-5 with the victory. The Terps carried a school-record tying seven-game winning streak into the championship match-up with the Golden Eagles.

Senior Kelly Shipman, pitching her second game of the day and her fourth of the tournament, struck out four and allowed only two earned runs. As Maryland's leadoff hitter, Shipman was one-for-three with a walk.

Senior second baseman Amy Sandler led the Terps with two hits in four at-bats while sophomore right fielder Annemarie Browne and first baseman Kiesha Pickeral also added base hits for the Terps.

Pitcher Courtney Blades struck out 12 batters and allowed only five hits in gaining the shutout victory for Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles allowed only one run in seven games during the three-day tournament.

Maryland travels to UMBC for a Wednesday doubleheader beginning at 2:30 before beginning an eight-date, 14- game homestand against Delaware on April 2.

                 123    456    7    R    H    E
Maryland         000    000    0    0    5    2
Southern Miss    001    300    X    4    9    0

Winning Pitcher - Courtney Blades.
Losing Pitcher - Kelly Shipman (13-10).
Doubles: Kenya Peters (SM), Maulorico (SM).
Triples: None.
Home Runs: None.

Third Round Terp Scores from the Buzz Classic
Maryland 16, Canisius 4
Maryland 9, Evansville 2
Southern Miss 4, Maryland 0