April 30, 2000
2000 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championships
GAME FOUR
Maryland, Georgia Tech
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Maryland Terrapins squeaked out a 2-1 victory over
Georgia Tech, eliminating the Yellow Jackets, in Game Four of the 2000
Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, Sunday afternoon at the Seminole
Softball Complex. With the loss, Tech ended its season 25-33 overall while
the Terps improved to 27-24 and stay alive to face North Carolina in Game
Six at 5 p.m.
There was little offensive production through the first three innings as
both teams combined for just three hits. In the Maryland fourth, Beth
Radford and Kiesha Pickeral led off with singles and a walk to Michelle
Burrell loaded the bases with one out. The Terrapins' Jillian Callaway hit
a base hit to left field scoring one run, but Maryland left the bases
loaded. The Yellow Jackets stranded two runners themselves in the bottom of
the fourth, but in the fifth inning, they tied the game. Tech had the bases
loaded with two out as Lindsay Wood, Lauren Schwartz and Heather Sumrow all
recorded base hits. Erin Hawley drew a walk to score one run and then ACC
batting leader Anne Knobbe came up to the plate, with the bases still
loaded, but popped out to end the inning. In the top of the seventh with
one out, Maryland's Annmarie Browne hit a double to deep center field for
the first extra-base hit of the game. She was brought home by a two-out
single, hit sharply to the shortstop, by Jennifer Potzman. The Yellow
Jackets went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.
"I think our kids played a tight game," Maryland Head Coach Gina LaMandre
said. "I'm very proud of how our kids maintained composure. We have a lot
of youth and we handled ourselves very well."
Maryland pitcher Jennifer Shellhammer (9-6) struck out five and allowed six
hits in six innings and Danielle Carpenter pitched the seventh for the
Terrapin pitching staff's first save of the year. Potzman and Radford each
had two hits for the Terps, who left eight runners on base. Georgia Tech's
Heather Sumrow led the team with two hits, but the Yellow Jackets also
stranded eight runners. Jamie Smith fell to 14-18 in the loss.
"I'm very pleased with the way we played in this tournament," Georgia Tech
Head Coach Kate Madden said. "We fought tooth and nail in every inning both
days and both games were respectable. I don't feel we could have done much
more other than hit better with runners in scoring position. I'm hoping we
will use this as a start for next season."
GAME FOUR 123 456 7 R H E
Maryland 000 100 1 2 7 0
Georgia Tech 000 010 0 1 6 0
WP - Jennifer Shellhammer (9-6)
LP - Jamie Smith (14-18)
