Terrapin Softball Team Heads To Florida For Speedline Invitational

March 6, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After two solid weeks of practice, rest and recovery, the Maryland softball squad (7-5, 0-0 ACC) is back in action this Thursday through Sunday at the annual South Florida Speedline Invitational. The Terrapins make their fourth straight appearance in the tournament which features 24 of the finest teams from around the nation. This year, due to grounds issues at the University of South Florida, the invitational will be held some 30 miles away from the Bulls' campus at Plant City Stadium in Plant City, Fla. Please adjust your schedules accordingly as the changes were made recently.

The Terps posted their best record in their three years of participation in the Speedline Invitational last season, going 5-2 en route to the consolation championship. After splitting pool play games at 2-2, the Terrapins reeled off consecutive wins over Florida A&M, Oklahoma State, Tennesee-Chattanooga and Boston University.

Follow the Terrapins all weekend long at the official home of Maryland Athletics on the Internet, www.umterps.com.The adjusted Terp schedule in this season's Speedline Invite is listed below:

Terps In The 2002 Speedline Invitational Plant City Stadium Plant City, Fla. Host: University of South Florida
Thursday, March 7
vs. Michigan State - 1:00 vs. Brigham Young - 3:00

Friday, March 8 vs. Florida International - 10:00 vs. Georgia State - 12:00

Saturday, March 9 vs. Houston - 12:00 vs. Championship Bracket Play - TBA

Sunday, March 10 Bracket Play (cont.) - TBA

For a complete schedule featuring all of the teams in the tournament and directions to the stadium, please click here.

Terps At A Glance: 2002 Highlights After Four Weeks Of Play

The Terrapins are 7-5 after the first four weeks of the 2002 season, having played all games at invitational tournaments. Maryland opens its home season on Tuesday, March 12, at 2:30 p.m. when the LaSalle Explorers come to College Park for a doubleheader. The following day the Terrapins host Delaware for a 2:30 p.m. twinbill as well.

Senior fireballer Amanda Bettker (St. Petersburg, Fla.) struck out 13 in Maryland's 2-0 shutout against Coastal Carolina. Bettker's high for strikeouts in a game is 15, when she fanned the Terp-record single-game total against East Carolina (April 29). The senior, who began the year battling through injury, appears to be in fine shape and has worked her ERA down to 1.59.

Redshirt sophomore Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) was named ACC Player of the Week for February 11 after hitting .533 during the Terps' opening weekend at the Bama Bash. The Terrapin centerfielder leads the squad with a .341 batting average, seven runs scored and six stolen bases.

Power pitcher Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) led the Terps to victory against Seton Hall by smacking a three-run homer and allowing no earned runs in six innings of work. She is 4-2 on the season with a 0.79 ERA and a team-best 28 strikeouts.

Second among starters with her batting average up to .306, slugger Kiesha Pickeral Hughesville, Md. is off to a fine start in her senior season. The senior first baseman is the team leader in RBI (8), slugging percentage (.439), sacrifice hits (2) and putouts (86).

Freshmen are making an impact in the Terp lineup and on the mound. Lauren Pollock (Severna Park, Md.) leads the team with two home runs and is fourth among starters with a .250 batting average, while Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) owns a perfect 2-0 pitching record and the staff's lowest ERA at 0.34.

Beth Radford's (Dunkirk, Md.) two RBI against Seton Hall puts her four RBI away from surpassing Jennifer Potzman (1998-2001) as Maryland's all-time RBI leader. Radford is batting .241 on the season and owns a team-high four doubles.

Christen Cuozzi (Langhorne, Pa.) singled and drove in a run in her only pinch hitting appearance this season.

Pinch runner Laura Angle (Ellicott City, Md.) scored Maryland's only run in games against Florida St. and Syracuse.

Scouting Michigan State (5-7)

The Spartans came back from a six-run deficit to defeat Missouri, 8-6, and win their final three games at the Strawberry Cup Tournament last weekend.

Michigan State's win over Missouri was head coach Jacquie Joseph's 393rd victory. Joseph is two wins away from becoming Michigan State's all-time winningest coach.

The Terrapins have never met the Spartans on the softball diamond.

Scouting Brigham Young (7-8)

Right fielder Brooke Cadiente homered twice to power Brigham Young past No. 12 Washington, 6-4, in the Red Desert Classic last weekend.

The Cougars' top hitter, Oli Keohohou, lifted BYU out of a 7-run deficit to beat Oregon, 8-7, last weekend by going 4-for-4 with two homeruns.

The Cougars and Terps will meet for the first time this weekend.

Scouting Florida International (14-13)

Pitchers Vanessa Preston and Kendra Laminack were named to the Golden Panther Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend. The duo combined for a 2-3 record in tournament play.

The Terrapins and Golden Panthers have split the all-time series, with Maryland falling 3-0 at last season's Speedline Invitational.

Scouting Georgia State (9-9)

Pitcher Corrie Roberts (4-3) held No. 21 Georgia hitless in the final five innings of the Panthers' 6-8 loss in the Georgia State Invitational.

Leadoff hitter Cindy Gillies serves as the Panthers' most dangerous baserunner, leading the team in runs scored (14) and stolen bases (7) this season.

The Terps look to exact revenge on a 8-3 loss from Maryland's first season of softball in 1995.

Scouting Houston (14-7)

Pitcher Jamie Falco (8-1) captured two wins against South Florida in Conference USA play during a three-game series last weekend.

Catcher Arelis Ferreris leads the Cougars with six homeruns this season after powering two homers past South Florida.

Houston and Maryland will play for the first time at the 2002 Speedline Invitational.

Terrapin Softball Team Heads To Florida For Speedline Invitational

Related News

Related Videos

Footer