Softball Continues Early-Season Tournament Play This Weekend

Feb. 19, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - While most of the east coast is snowed-in, the Terps (2-2) are south-bound this weekend as they head to Tampa, Fla. for the USF-Best Western Tournament. Maryland is scheduled to play five games this weekend if the forecasted rains in Florida hold off. The Terps will take on Seton Hall and Indiana on Friday, Hofstra and Radford on Saturday, and tournament host South Florida on Sunday. Be sure to visit www.umterps.com throughout the weekend for tournament coverage.

New faces in the Terrapin starting lineup gave the team instant offense in its season-opening tournament last weekend. After impressing Coach Gina LaMandre during preseason practices, outfielder Crystal Tweedy (Dumfries, Va.) went 1-for-3 on the weekend. She also scored the game-winning run against Drexel after stealing third base and scoring on a single by Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio). Tweedy appeared in 35 games for the Terps in 2002, but only started seven. She mostly appeared as a pinch runner. Freshman Natalie Grossman (Skillman, N.J.) went 2-for-8 in her collegiate debut weekend and scored a crucial run in Maryland's victory over Boston College.

Sophomore hurler Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) was in complete control on the mound last weekend. Aditays went 2-0 and struck out a career-high 10 batters in her win against Drexel. She held opponents to a .197 batting average during the University of Georgia Invitational. When coming in for relief against then-No. 17 Georgia, Aditays managed to hold a team with a collective .328 batting average to three hits (3 hits/14 batters faced, .214).


Terps at the USF-Best Western Tournament (EST)
Fri., Feb. 21-vs. Seton Hall-9:00 a.m.
Fri., Feb. 21-vs. Indiana-11:00 a.m.
Sat., Feb. 22-vs. Hofstra-5:00 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 22-vs. Radford-7:00 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23-vs. South Florida-1:00 p.m.

SCOUTING SETON HALL (0-0 in 2003, 0-1 vs. Maryland)

Seven year head coach Ray Vander May and the Pirates will open their season against Maryland on Friday at the USF-Best Western Tournament. The team was picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST preseason poll.

Last year's team finished with a 29-17 record and placed fifth in the BIG EAST.

Junior outfielder McKenzie Richards will lead the offensive charge for Seton Hall. Last season, Richards led the team with a .344 batting average. She also scored 21 runs and stole 12 bases for the Pirates.

The power in the Seton Hall lineup comes from sophomore catcher Laura Taylor. As a freshman, she knocked 18 home runs and drove in 37 runs for the Pirates. Her home runs per game percentage (18 home runs in 45 games, .400) was tops in the nation. The All-BIG EAST selection was also one of 20 collegiate players invited to tryout for the U.S. National Training Team.

SCOUTING INDIANA (3-2 in 2003, 0-0 vs. Maryland)

The Hoosiers and new head coach Sara Hayes opened the 2003 season at the New Mexico State Tournament last weekend. The Hoosiers went 3-2, capturing wins against San Jose State, Eastern Illinois, and Bowling Green, while falling to Marshall and Southwest Texas State.

Senior catcher Stormy Hanson has jumped out to a quick start this season. Hanson went 10-for-16 this past weekend and was named to the New Mexico State Tournament All-Tournament team. She also drove in six runs for the Hoosiers.

Sophomore Katie Witham and junior Heather Stillians anchor Indiana's pitching staff. Witham opened the season 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA and seven strikeouts. Her teammate went 2-1 last weekend and earned a 3.00 ERA.

Last season the Hoosiers went 13-31-1 and placed last in the Big Ten.

SCOUTING HOFSTRA (2-3 in 2003, 2-2 vs. Maryland)

The Pride has seven returning starters from last year's CAA champion squad. The 2002 Pride went 28-25 under head coach Bill Edwards.

Hofstra opened its season at the USF-Wilson Invitational last weekend. The Pride went 2-3 on the weekend, including a 7-4 upset win over then-No. 17 Notre Dame. Hofstra also beat Rhode Island, but fell to Jacksonville, Kent State, and tournament host South Florida.

Junior catcher Meaghan Almon led the Pride offense in the team's victory over then-No. 17 Notre Dame. Almon went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs in the win. Senior Amanda Hallaway has been the most consistent hitter for the Pride, going 4-for-10 with four RBI in the season-opening tournament.

SCOUTING RADFORD (0-3 in 2003, 1-2 vs. Maryland)

First year head coach Amy Kvilhaug is looks to improve upon last year's 18-41 campaign. The team went 5-5 in conference play to place third in the Big South.

Sophomore outfielder Ashley Smith is the Highlanders' top returning hitter. Last season she batted .296 and drove in 34 runs. Smith went 3-for-10 last weekend at the Triangle Classic.

SCOUTING SOUTH FLORIDA (11-4 in 2003, 7-4 vs. Maryland)

The Bulls have had some early success against nationally ranked opponents. They downed then-No. 17 Notre Dame and then-No. 8 Oklahoma in early season tournaments.

Senior catcher Courtney Lewellen (.465 BA, 12 RBI), senior Renee Oursler (.429 BA, 12 RBI), and freshman second baseman Katrina Dowd (.396 BA, 12 R) have carried South Florida's offense. The rest of the Bulls' lineup is batting below .300.

Juniors Corin Tassio and Leigh Ann Ellis control the Bulls' game from the pitching circle. The duo has earned victories in 10 out of South Florida's 11 wins and has a combined ERA of 1.75.

Follow The Terrapins In 2003

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For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please locate www.umterps.com on the Internet. Check it out for the most recent softball information.

E-mail Straight To You
If you would like the latest Maryland softball news e-mailed directly to you as soon as it breaks, e-mail softball contact Chelsey Trowbridge at ctrow@wam.umd.edu with the message "Softball E-mail" as the subject and you will receive every update released about the team.

Softball Continues Early-Season Tournament Play This Weekend

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