Feb. 17, 2001

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - The Maryland Terrapin softball squad (2-2) gritted out a pair of victories late Saturday evening at the USF-Holiday Inn Tournament, ending a second day of competition filled with heroics and drama. After a brilliant, two-hit pitching performance by Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) defeated Hofstra 2-1, the Terrapins came back to stun National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) No. 18 South Carolina, beating the Gamecocks 4-3 in an extra inning thriller.

In her first collegiate start, Cyphert (1-0) struck out six and did not allow a base hit until the seventh inning as Maryland downed the Pride in a Game 1 pitcher's duel. The Terps first cracked the scoreboard in the sixth inning when senior Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Md.) drew a leadoff walk. Senior Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) doubled to right center to advance Browne to third, which was followed up by a Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) RBI single. Later, with two outs and Radford on third, freshman Jen Peel (St. Leonard) ripped a single to center to give the Terps a 2-0 advantage. The Pride attempted a comeback in the bottom of the inning, managing to put one run across, but the Terrapins held on for the victory.

Left handed junior Danielle Carpenter (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) put in an excellent effort in Game 2, striking out four and allowing only one earned run in collecting the eight-inning victory over No. 18 South Carolina. The Gamecocks struck early, putting two runs across in the first on a Joyce McMillin RBI single and Amber Curtis groundout, and scoring another in the third on a Curtis base knock. Down three, the Terps roared back in the fourth and tied the game when a Peel bloop single scored Browne and Potzman. Brilliant defense by the Terrapins, including a diving stop by third baseman Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) and a bang-bang play at the plate by Carpenter, Potzman and Radford kept the contest knotted at three until International Tiebreaker Rules went into effect in the eighth. After the Terrapins stopped USC in the top half of the inning, inserted runner Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) slid into third under a wild Gamecock throw after Browne attempted a sacrifice bunt. With the stage set and midnight approaching, Potzman drove a Megan Matthews offering deep into right center to give the Terrapins the 4-3 dramatic victory.

Peel was 2-for-5 (.400) on the day with three RBI, while Burrell was 3-for-8 (.375) with two runs scored.

The Terps conclude action in the USF-Holiday Inn Tournament Sunday, when Maryland meets the host Bulls at 2 p.m.

Contact: Mark Fratto
301-314-7064 (phone)
301-314-9094 (fax)
301-314-TERP (Fan Phone)
fratto@wam.umd.edu