March 17, 2001

Box Score 1, Box Score 2

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Maryland softball team (16-11) once again had its mettle tested and once again responded with toughness and intensity, holding off Syracuse, 5-3, in the first round of championship bracket play at the Tallahassee Democrat-Florida State Invitational. Led by fiery senior starting pitcher Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.), the ninth-seeded Terps gutted out the two-hour, thirty-nine minute victory as the evening grew nasty with rain and mud. The win came after losing a 6-0 decision earlier today at the hands of UMass to give the Terrapins a 1-2 slate in pool play. With the first round victory over the No. 8-seeded Orangewomen (4-10), the Terps are primed to take on ACC/SASA rival in the host team and No. 4 seed Florida State at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The Terps struck early with a run in the top of the first, as senior centerfielder Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) doubled to lead off, advanced on a Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Pa.) sacrifice bunt, and scored after Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) walked and drew an errant throw while stealing second. Syracuse second baseman Julie Dunn had the answer in the form of a RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

Maryland took another lead just before the skies opened in the second. With Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) and Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) aboard and two outs, Burrell blasted a shot to deep centerfield, just deflecting off the outstretched glove of Christina Holowich for her ninth career home run. Shellhammer (3-4) then went to work, battling the elements and the Orangewomen to allow only two hits in the next four innings.

Syracuse refused to go away, however, and used the sloppy conditions to its advantage. The Orange cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth on two walks, a passed ball, a single and a sacrifice fly. Shellhammer and the Terp defense faced a no-out, bases-loaded situation that inning and battled to hang on to the lead. After Callaway doubled to the left centerfield gap and Stefanie Robinson (Avenel, N.J.) chipped her home with a bloop shot, Shellhammer got the strikeout she needed in the bottom of the seventh to end Syracuse's final threat and the ballgame.

Earlier in the day, junior Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) (4-2) struck out five as the Terps fell to UMass in their final game of pool play. The Terps punched five base hits to the Minutewomen's six but were unable to string any together, dropping the decision 6-0.

Burrell finished the day 4-for-8 (.500) with three RBI and two runs scored. Callaway was 2-for-4 (.500) with two runs, while Radford was 3-for-7 (.429) with one run scored.

The Terrapins (RV) and No. 16 Seminoles meet for the second time this season on Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Messer softball complex. FSU was a 5-3 winner in the first meeting on Feb. 24 at the Florida Atlantic-Worth Invitational, in a contest where Terp newcomer Casey Leiter (Lake Stevens, Wash.) spoiled Seminole rookie Jessica van der Linden's 25-scoreless inning streak with a two RBI double. Sunday's game will not count toward ACC/SASA standings.

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