Terps Host James Madison Dukes Wednesday

April 15, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terps (13-13, 0-4 ACC) will take on the James Madison Dukes Wednesday at the Terrapin Softball Complex in the first-ever contests between these two programs. The first game will start at 5:00 p.m. Maryland is coming off Sunday's doubleheader sweep against Coppin State. The Terps captured a 4-0 victory thanks to the arm and bat of junior Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio), who pitched her first career no-hitter and also smacked a three run homer. Maryland went on to finish off the Eagles 12-0 in game two.

SCOUTING JAMES MADISON

James Madison (17-20, 4-2 CAA) has gone 7-2 in its last nine games. This past weekend, the Dukes picked up two conference wins from Drexel.

Dukes head coach Katie Flynn picked up her 200th career victory in a 10-2 win over Delaware on Apr. 6.

Freshman Briana Carrera was named CAA Rookie of the Week for April 8. She was impressive on both the mound and at the plate, going 2-0 with 11 strikeouts and 5-for-11 (.455) with five runs scored, four RBI and a stolen base.

Despite the relatively close distance between the schools, this will be the first time the Dukes match-up against the Terps. James Madison started its softball program in 2001.

Freshman centerfielder Lauren Curtis leads the team with a .382 batting average. She is currently in the midst of a six-game hit streak. Her season-high hit streak is nine games (March 8-14).

NO HITS FOR YOU!

Junior Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) pitched her first career no-hitter against Coppin State in Maryland's doubleheader this past Sunday. She fanned a career-high 14 batters and also planted a ball way past the wall in left centerfield for her career-tying fifth homer of the season.

Thanks to her great performance at the plate and in the circle during Sunday's performance, Cyphert (7-7) was named Maryland Student Athlete of the Week.

Cyphert, along with Liz Gall (Bothell, Wash.) was part of a combined perfect game against Morgan State in 2001.

CARDOZA THRICE AS NICE

Versatile junior Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.) elevated her game in the second half of Sunday's doubleheader against Coppin State. Cardoza, who has played second base, third base, and the outfield this season, went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored in Maryland's 12-0 win.

Cardoza's performance matched her other career day this season, when she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored against George Mason (Apr. 2).

TURNING THE CORNER

The Terps are showing renewed confidence in the past two weeks now that they are playing on a more consistent basis. Before Maryland's appearance at the Buzz Classic three weeks ago, the team was idle for two weeks due to inclement weather that made the field at the Terrapin Softball Complex unplayable. The Terps have had 21 games wiped off their schedule thanks to Mother Nature.

The Terps are getting clutch performances from almost every spot in the lineup. Four batters are hitting over .300 in situations with runners in scoring position, and 10 Terps are advancing runners more than 40 percent of the time.

Monica Cyphert's streak of homering in non-conference games ended during the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against Coppin State. Cyphert had gone deep in four straight out-of-league games.

Centerfielder Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) leads the team with nine multiple-hit games. Senior Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) is second with six, and sophomore shortstop Malissa Moczulski (Burlington, N.J.) owns four. There are five Terps who are tied with three multi-hit performances.

Maryland's second game against Coppin State, which ended in the fifth due to the eight-run mercy rule, was the second time Maryland mercied an opponent this season. This season, the team mercied George Mason 11-1 in six innings. Last year, Maryland won shortened games against Samford, Delaware, LaSalle, Elon, and Brown.

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