March 17, 2000
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Maryland softball squad (12-11) exploded for 32 hits in three games as the Terps took two out of three in pool play on the first day of the Tallahassee Democrat Florida State Invitational. Six home runs, including three by sophomore Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) and two by senior Cortney Madea (Northampton, Pa.) were among the Terp fireworks that dazzled Bethune-Cookman 7-3 and Virginia Tech 10-2. Between the Maryland victories, the Terrapins were handed a 7-1 loss by Northern Iowa.
Sophomore ace Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (6-5) was back in sensational form, earning both of the day's victories. The Terps struck first against Bethune-Cookman and never looked back as sophomore Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) singled in freshman speedster Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) in the first inning. The Terps swung hot sticks in the third, when junior Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) singled and scored on Madea's first blast of the day. Radford stepped up immediately after, delivering a solo shot to increase the Terps' lead to 4-0. Pickeral's two-run bomb, her first of the day, came in the sixth as the Terps rolled, 7-3. Sweeney was 3-for-4 with two runs, a double and a stolen base. Madea and Radford were both 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI apiece.
Junior hurler Jen Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.) (5-4) took the loss against Northern Iowa. The Terps got their lone run in the third when Sweeney scored on a UNI throwing error as the Panthers were victorious, 7-1.
Maryland bounced back against a talented Virginia Tech team, eight-run ruling the Hokies courtesy of two home runs by Pickeral. The Terps once again got their bats going early, as Madea set the pace with her second homer of the day in the first inning. Pickeral finished game 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI to complement her two jacks. Sweeney chipped in with a double and Radford added a two-bagger and three RBI.
The Terps' 2-1 record on the day was good enough to earn a spot in the winner's bracket in the championship rounds that begin Saturday. As the No. 2 seed out of Pool D, the Terps play at 12 p.m. Maryland's opponent is yet to be determined.
Game 1 Linescore
Bethune-Cookman 000 000 3 - 3 6 1
Maryland 103 102 x - 7 13 5
Bethune-Cookman: Miranda Mayse.
Maryland: Amanda Bettker, Danielle Carpenter (6) and Beth Radford.
Winning Pitcher - Bettker (5-5). Losing Pitcher - Mayse.
Doubles: Samantha Sweeney (M), Holly Baldwin(M),
Cortney Madea (M), Kamilah Johnson (B). Triples: Brandi Lewis (B).
Home Runs: Madea (M), Beth Radford (M), Kiesha Pickeral (M), Janelle Hall (B).
Game 2 Linescore
Northern Iowa 140 020 0 - 7 8 1
Maryland 001 000 0 - 1 2 1
Maryland: Jennifer Shellhammer, Danielle Carpenter (2) and Sarah Putnam.
Losing Pitcher - Shellhammer (5-4).
Doubles: Stephanie Stavely (N), Allison Taverner (N).
Triples: None. Home Runs: Melissa Navntoft (N).
Game 3 Linescore
Maryland 211 051 - 10 11 0
Virginia Tech 000 020 - 2 5 0
Maryland: Amanda Bettker and Beth Radford.
Virginia Tech: Ashlee Dobbe.
Winning Pitcher - Bettker (6-5). Losing Pitcher - Dobbe (5-6).
Doubles: Samantha Sweeney (M), Beth Radford (M), Clarissa Crowell (V).
Triples: None. Home Runs: Madea (M), Kiesha Pickeral (M) 2, Carmen Farmer (V).
Contact: Mark Fratto
301-314-7064 (phone)
301-314-9094 (fax)
301-314-TERP (Fan Phone)
fratto@wam.umd.edu (e-mail)
