April 7, 2001

FAIRFAX, Va. - Right-handed pitcher Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.) fittingly got the start in Maryland's second game of the George Mason Spring Clash, and characteristically rose to the challenge. The senior hurler, who has won some of the Terrapins' toughest games of the season especially of late, struck out eight in helping Maryland defeat her former squad Radford, 2-0, on GMU's campus.

Maryland's (28-13) victory gives the Terps a 2-0 GMU Invitational record after pounding the host Patriots, 10-0, in five innings earlier on Saturday.

Shellhammer, who transferred amicably from Radford (14-24-1) prior to the 2000 season, is now victorious in six of her last eight appearances. After a 0-4 start to 2001, the fiery competitor has elevated her record to 6-4 and lowered her earned run average to 1.74, helping Maryland's team ERA to an ACC second-rated 1.34. This afternoon, facing friends and her former teammates and coach, the senior carried a no-hitter into the sixth and surrendered only two hits in the entire game.

The Terrapins took an early-inning lead on junior Kiesha Pickeral's (Hughesville, Md.) RBI single. After Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Pa.) walked and advanced on a Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) free ride, the Terp first baseman laced a line drive just off the glove of diving Highlander shortstop Ashleigh Brooks. Browne beat the throw home from second after the ball was collected in shallow centerfield.

Maryland put another run across in the fifth to go ahead 2-0. Leadoff batter Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) singled and advanced to second on a Browne sacrifice bunt. When Potzman launched a fly ball to deep center the speedy Burrell tagged and raced to third, but was awarded home as the Highlander throw from the outfield skipped out of play. Shellhammer put Radford away after a leadoff double in their half of the fifth as the Terps won their season-high seventh game in a row.

On the day, Pickeral was an astounding 5-for-7 (.714) with five RBI and a run scored, before leaving Game 2 with a shoulder injury. Sophomore Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) hit in both games as did Burrell, who crossed a total of four runs.

The Terrapins are back in action as part of the GMU Spring Clash on Sunday. The Terps face Morgan State for the third time this season at 9 a.m. after defeating them twice in Baltimore on March 28, and then Radford again at 1 p.m. in the championship semifinal. The final game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

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