March 11, 2001

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - Terp junior fireballer Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) capped a dominating weekend with a six-strikeout performance as the Maryland softball squad (13-8) romped over Boston University, 5-0, to take the championship in the consolation bracket at the Speedline Invitational. The Sunshine State native allowed only three hits in her third shutout victory of the season, while sophomore Stefanie Robinson (Avenel, N.J.) drove in the game-winning RBI and senior Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) added insurance with a two-run double in the fifth.

The win gives Maryland a 5-2 record on the weekend, marking the best slate the Terrapins have amassed in three seasons of competition at the Speedline Invitational. In seven games at the elite event, the Terp pitching staff shone with a combined 0.60 ERA.

The Terps first got on the scoreboard in the fourth when sophomore Robinson blooped a single between Terrier fielders in shallow center. The bases were loaded and pinch-runner Amanda Kipnis (Northbrook, Ill.) scored on the play.

Maryland juiced the bases once again and put the game away in a wild bottom of the sixth inning. Designated hitter Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a Robinson double to the left centerfield gap. After Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) was hit by a pitch, second baseman Jen Peel (St. Leonard, Md.) drew a walk to cross Radford. Burrell drove in a run with a fielder's choice up the middle before fellow senior Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Potzman stepped in next, launching a double over the Terrier left fielder to score Callaway and Peel and put the Terps up by the 5-0 advantage.

Boston's largest threat came in its half of the sixth, when centerfielder Kerry Herr smacked a one-out double. Bettker, however, pitched her way out of trouble and preserved the lead by whiffing third baseman Aryn Rangel and pinch hitter Kate Abney surrounding an intentional walk.

Terp highlights not seen in the box score included a pair of diving catches by senior right fielder Browne. In the fourth inning Browne snared a pop up to rob the Terriers of a single and rifled the throw to Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) to force a runner out at first for a double-play. The veteran made a similar sliding stab in the seventh inning, followed by a sprawling stop by Callaway to get the final out in the Terp victory.

Burrell, Browne and Robinson each had two hits on the day as the Terps collected a pair of victories. Earlier Sunday morning Maryland defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga on the strength of a Pickeral home run and eight-strikeout performance by Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.) to advance to the semifinal game.

The Terps are back in action on Wednesday of this week, hosting Monmouth for a doubleheader on March 14. Maryland faces the Hawks at 3 p.m. before it heads to Tallahassee March 16-18 for the Lady Seminole Invitational.

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