May 13, 2001

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Terrapin softball team's run at the 2001 ACC Softball Championships came to a conclusion on Sunday, as the Florida State Seminoles (54-9) broke open a pitchers' duel in the fifth and went on to win, 4-0. Maryland concludes its 2001 season with a 39-23 slate, while FSU advances to face North Carolina for the conference tournament title.

Accomplished junior hurlers Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Florida State's Leslie Malerich, who both logged innings in all of their teams' tournament games, were given the starts once again. The two were effective in keeping their adversaries off the scoreboard, allowing one hit apiece through the first five innings.

The Seminoles interrupted the stalemate in the sixth, when FSU's Serita Brooks reached on a fielder's choice off of Terp reliever Jenn Shellhammer (Slatington, Pa.). After stealing second, the Seminole speedster scampered home on a single by Staci Brandon. Brandon moved to second on a walk and came around to score on a Terrapin error.

The Seminoles added a pair of runs on back-to-back homers by Monique Marier and Natalie Bennett in the top of the seventh.

The Terps' best threat came in the bottom of the inning. Down 4-0, junior first baseman Kiesha Pickeral (Hughesville, Md.) smoked a double down the left field line to lead off, and reached second when catcher Beth Radford (Dunkirk, Md.) drew a walk. Malerich and the Florida State defense, however, were able to get the outs they needed to pick up the victory and move on to the title series games.

Burrell finished the tournament with a .357 (5-for-14) batting average, two doubles and a pair of runs scored. Pickeral recorded two two-baggers and drove in two runs, while Danielle Carpenter (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) rounded out the weekend .333 with a RBI.

Bettker was magnificent as well, putting together a 2-1 record while logging 24.0 innings. She struck out 15 across her four appearances and finished with a 0.58 ERA.

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