March 24, 2001

Box Score

MARIETTA, Ga. - The Maryland softball team (20-12) crossed the only run of the ballgame in the second inning and used flawless defense and solid pitching to top Princeton, 1-0, in its third win at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic. The contest was a milestone victory for the program and seventh-year mentor Gina LaMandre, who picked up the both the club's 200th victory and the 200th win in the head coach's career. LaMandre, who came to College Park as a first-year head coach to construct the softball program in 1995, has guided the Terrapins to a 200-165-1 (.548) overall record.

The Terrapins continued to swing good sticks and played an extremely clean contest in the field, posting eight hits and committing no errors. Maryland's offense has averaged 9.0 base knocks per game in three wins at the Buzz Classic.

Maryland junior Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) got the Terps started in the second with a leadoff single. A base hit to left center by freshman Casey Leiter (Lake Stevens, Ohio) put Pickeral in scoring position, and the first baseman advanced to third on a Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) groundout. Sophomore sparkplug Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) came to the plate and did what she does best, driving in the baserunner with a chip shot up the middle.

Terp junior Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) dominated once again, striking out five and allowing only three Princeton hits in her fourth shutout victory of 2001. The fireballer stayed out of trouble most of the game, squashing the Tigers' only real threat when they had two baserunners in the sixth. The hurler forced a pair of harmless pop outs.

Maryland, winner of three Buzz Classic pool play games, faces off with Connecticut (3-0) at 6 p.m. in the final preliminary round contest for both teams. The game's start was delayed after rainy conditions slowed down play. The Terps and Huskies have officially met only once in a 2000 2-0 UConn win.

The game will be available online courtesy of Connecticut's student radio station, www.whus.com, weather and time permitting.

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