March 16, 2001

Box Score 1, Box Score 2

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Terp softball squad (15-10) displayed a tremendous amount of determination, rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat Troy State on the first day of the Tallahassee Democrat-Florida State Invitational before dropping the nightcap to No. 21 Michigan. The 5-4 Terp come-from-behind victory, made possible by a two-RBI single roped by junior catcher Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) came before Maryland's 3-0 loss at the hands of the Wolverines to even its pool play record at 1-1.

Check out all of the day's results at the Tallahassee Democrat-Florida State Invitational website.

The Terps found themselves down early in the first game against the Lady Trojans, but clawed all the way back for the exhilarating win. Terp starting pitcher Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) was touched for three runs on seven hits in the contest's early goings, and Troy State was able to take a 4-0 advantage into the fourth inning on a Maryland error. The Terps got a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Casey Leiter (Lake Stevens, Wash.) bases-loaded single and Radford's third sacrifice fly of the year. Maryland was not done there however, as the Terps loaded the bases with one out an inning later. Junior Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) drove in a run on a fielder's choice chip shot to center that fell in. A walk to Leiter left "sacks jacked" once again for Radford, whose rocket down the left field line gave the Terps their first advantage of the day. Senior Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.), who took over pitching responsibilities in the fourth, was able to hold the Lady Trojans to pick up her second victory of the season.

Later in the evening the No. 21 Wolverines were benefactors of some Terrapin fielding woes, scoring three unearned runs despite a strong performance from freshman hurler Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio). The rookie held Michigan to five hits and struck out three as her record evened at 4-4. Maryland banged out four hits, mounting its largest threat in the seventh when a two-out double by sophomore Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) escaped a diving Melissa Taylor in Michigan's right field. Radford, who had singled, advanced to third on the play, but Wolverine left fielder Chrissy Garza was able to snare a sinking liner by sophomore Stefanie Robinson (Avenel, N.J.) to end the game.

On the day, Radford was 2-for-3 (.667) with a walk and three RBI, while senior Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Pa.) put in a 4-for-7 (.571) performance with a pair of runs scored.

The Terrapins, who are receiving votes in the most recent USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll, take on Massachusetts (RV) tomorrow at noon to conclude pool play before seedings are set for the championship round. The contest marks Maryland's first meeting with the Minutewomen in school history and should be a special one for head coach Gina LaMandre, who was an assistant coach for UMass from 1987-94 before coming to College Park to construct the Terps' program. Assistant coach Rachel Lawson was a four year letterwinner at Massachusetts and a two-time All-Atlantic 10 first baseman, leading the Minutewomen to the Women's College World Series in 1992.

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