April 14, 2001

Box Score 1, Box Score 2

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terrapin pitching staff kept the Patriots in check and the senior-led offense exploded for 18 hits as the Maryland softball squad (33-13) dominated George Mason, 6-0 and 7-1. Four-year veterans Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) and Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) collected four hits each on the day while Potzman and junior Beth Radford's (Dunkirk, Md.) homers complemented another solid effort by the Terp pitchers. The victories extended the Terps' school-record win streak to 12 and made them winners of 18 out of their last 20 games, leaving the squad with momentum as they begin conference play on Sunday.

Junior fireballer Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) improved her record to 11-3 with Game 1's shutout victory. The right-hander fanned six, and reliever Liz Gall (Bothell, Wash.) struck out one in the seventh, as Maryland's pitching staff marked its sixth straight game without yielding a run. Sophomore second-baseman Amanda Kipnis (Northbrook, Ill.) got the Terps started in the fourth, driving in her first collegiate RBI with a two-out rocket to right center. RBI base hits by Danielle Carpenter (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) later in the inning and by Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.), Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) and Burrell in the fourth, in addition to a Carpenter sacrifice fly, gave the Terps their final advantage.

The onslaught continued with Radford's solo bomb in the second inning of Game 2, shortly followed by a Burrell two-RBI double to the centerfield fence. After GMU scored in the third on a Tasha Galecki single, Carpenter drove in a run in the fourth to make it 4-1. Potzman's solo shot led off the Terp fifth before Kipnis capped her banner day with a two-RBI single through the left side.

Senior Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.) scattered three hits in four innings to collect the victory and move to 8-4 on the season. The fiery competitor has now won eight straight.

Burrell finished the event 4-for-7 with a double and three RBI, while Potzman was 4-for-7 also with two runs scored and one driven in. Sophomore Kipnis finished the doubleheader 3-for-4 with single-game career highs in hits (2) and RBI (2).

The Terps put their streak on the line tomorrow in their first conference action of the 2001 season. Maryland clashes with Georgia Tech, who faces Virginia on Saturday, at 1 p.m. at the North Softball Complex.

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