March 14, 2001

Box Score 1, Box Score 2

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - ACC Pitcher of the Week Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) continued her dominance in the circle and sophomore sparkplug Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) came through in the clutch once again as the Maryland softball team (14-9) split a doubleheader with Monmouth. Callaway and the Terrapins showed some character as the evening air grew colder, rallying to win the second game 2-1 after dropping the day's opener, 3-1. Bettker was effective in two relief appearances, striking out a total of 12 batters and picking up her first career save in Game 2.

The Terrapins fell behind early in both of the day's games, but stayed within striking distance thanks to the junior fireballer. Bettker, who was also selected Maryland's Student-Athlete of the Week for her performances at last weekend's Speedline Invitational, gave up only two base hits in nine innings across the two games. She did not walk a batter and fanned nearly half of the 30 Hawks she faced.

Callaway's timely double propelled Maryland over Monmouth (6-5) in the Game 2 victory. The Hawks took a one run lead in their first at-bat and maintained it until the fourth, when shortstop Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) led off with a single up the middle and catcher Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) drew a walk after a Terp sacrifice bunt. Freshman Casey Leiter (Lake Stephens, Wash.) advanced on a fielder's choice as the Hawks forced the second out at third base, but fellow newcomer Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) then walked to load the bases. With two out and the stage set, Callaway blasted Scarlett Reuter's delivery to the fence in dead centerfield, driving home Radford and Leiter to put the Terps ahead. Cyphert (4-3) was solid on the mound with three strikeouts in collecting the victory, and Bettker ensured the win by closing out the contest with three innings of hitless softball.

Callaway's game-winning base knock marks the fourth time in her collegiate career that she has come through in such a crucial moment. No stranger to drama, the energetic infielder punched in the deciding RBI in Terp wins over South Florida, Ohio and Princeton, all in 2000. Her pair of runs batted in ties her single-game career high, established twice as a freshman.

The Hawks came out with hot bats in Game 1, scoring three runs in the first on four hits and a Terp error. Maryland answered with a run in its half of the first, as senior Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) crossed on a Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) bouncer to second. Bettker struck out eight in six innings to keep the Hawks at bay for the remainder of the game, but the Terrapins were unable to capitalize on the scoreboard. Southpaw Danielle Carpenter (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) suffered only her first loss of the season to bring her record to 4-1.

With a 5-1 record in their last six games, the Terps are receiving votes in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll released earlier today. Maryland now takes its show again on the road, travelling to the campus of ACC/SASA rival Florida State for the Tallahassee Democrat-Lady Seminole Invitational. Maryland faces Troy State to open the tournament on Friday, March 16 at noon.

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