May 12, 2001

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Terrapin softball squad used a great deal of grit and a little luck to down Virginia, 3-1, in Game 6 of the 2001 ACC Softball Championships at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex. Down 1-0 before a one hour, twenty-seven minute rain delay, the Terrapins put it together to come from behind and defeat the Cavaliers, avenging an April 22 doubleheader sweep and earning a rematch with top-seeded Florida State, who fell to host UNC 2-0 earlier on Saturday.

Right-handed ace Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) captured her second victory in as many days, forcing the Cavaliers into 13 fly outs. The ironwoman fanned two in her 18th complete game of the season, totaling 19 innings in 28 hours. In a brilliant display of determination, Bettker allowed four hits and only one run -- on a RBI bloop single by Kristen Dennis in the first.

Lightning and brief but heavy rain stalled the contest in the top of the second. The Terrapins were still trailing by a run in the fourth when senior right fielder Annmarie Browne (Lansdale, Pa.) led off with a single. After shortstop Jennifer Potzman (Trexlertown, Pa.) was hit by a pitch the runners advanced on a Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Pa.), Beth Radford's (Dunkirk, Md.) pop to second was mishandled and resulted in a Terp score. With runners at the corners, junior Danielle Carpenter (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) legged out a grounder to the right side that scored Potzman to give the Terrapins a 2-1 lead.

After centerfielder Michelle Burrell (Owego, N.Y.) blasted a one-out double in the fifth and Browne drew a walk, Pickeral laced a two-bagger down the left field line to increase the Maryland lead to two. Bettker was in control at that point, retiring the Cavs in order through the last three innings.

Burrell and Carpenter have now hit in all three ACC tournament games, improving to 4-for-11 (.364) and 4-for-10 (.400), respectively. Burrell has two doubles and two runs scored, while Carpenter has also doubled and drove in a run. Bettker totals 13 strikeouts and two runs in her three appearances for a 0.74 ERA.

The Terrapins and Seminoles face off once again at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The winner will move on to meet North Carolina at 1 p.m., but will have to defeat the Tar Heels twice to take the 2001 ACC Softball Championship. The title game will be televised at 4:30 p.m. on Fox Sports South and Comcast Sports Net.

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