Terps Take Season-High Winning Streak Into ACC Tilt

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April 17, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Terps (15-13, 0-4 ACC) are the hottest they've been all season and are riding a season-best four-game win streak into this Saturday's doubleheader with ACC competitor Virginia (29-20, 1-3 ACC). Game time is scheduled for noon Saturday at The Park in Charlottesville, Va. Maryland's streak comes after consecutive doubleheader sweeps of regional teams Coppin State and James Madison. This weekend's game will be the first Maryland has played away from College Park since March 25 when the team took on the Seminoles in Tallahassee, Fla.

Head coach Gina LaMandre's squad will look to take its first ACC victory of the season from Virginia this weekend. The Terps played close games against Florida State and Georgia Tech, but dropped games on late-inning errors.

Last season, the Terps lost to Virginia, 3-2, in the teams' only regular season match-up. The scheduled doubleheader, hosted at Maryland, was plagued by rain and game two was called in the bottom of the first inning and was not rescheduled. In the first game, the Cavaliers posted two runs in the fifth off a Ruby Rojas home run. UVa added an insurance run in the seventh when Kristen Dennis powered a pitch over the left field fence to put Virginia up, 3-0. Maryland rallied in the seventh thanks to Monica Cyphert's two-run blast to center, but could not overcome the defecit. Maryland also had their 2002 season ended by Virginia in a 4-1 ACC Tournament loss.

RECAPPING THIS WEEK'S ACTION

Maryland hopes to extend its four-game win streak after impressive outings against both Coppin State and James Madison. The Terps swept a doubleheader Wednesday from the Dukes by the scores of 4-2 and 1-0 in nine innings. The team handed losses to the Eagles 4-0 and 12-0 in five innings. Maryland sports a seven-game non-conference win streak, with its only losses being to ACC foe Georgia Tech Apr. 6.

The story of the week has been the performance of junior double-threat Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio). Cyphert pitched her first career no-hitter on Sunday and also broke her career-high for strikeouts with 14. The junior also picked up three wins this week. She sat down seven Dukes in a complete game against James Madison, then came on in relief of Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) in the night cap. Cyphert pitched five innings and was the pitcher of record when Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) hit the game-winning single in the ninth. Before the Dukes scored two runs in the seventh inning of the first game, Cyphert hadn't allowed a run in 18-2/3 innings of work.

Centerfielder Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) and shortstop Malissa Moczulski (Burlington, N.J.) led the Terrapin offense against James Madison. Both players had three hits in the doubleheader and scored runs in game one.

Coach Gina LaMandre has had an opportunity to mix around with the Terrapin lineup in the past week. The Terps have had a variety of new faces in the lineup, including freshman catcher Rachel Greyson (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.). Greyson made her collegiate debut in game two against Coppin State and went 2-for-3 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Sophomore bopper Lauren Pollock (Severna Park, Md.) has been seeing more time in the outfield, in addition to serving as a designated player and pinch hitter.

CLUTCH CALLAWAY

Senior Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) has been rising to the occasion for the Terps this season. The first baseman drove in Wednesday night's game-winning run in the ninth inning to send James Madison home. She is batting .308 with runners in scoring position, and a team-high .387 in two-out situations. Callaway has also collected a team-high six RBI in 2-out situations.

The first baseman continues to knock down Maryland team records throughout her 2003 campaign. She has already moved to ninth on the career hits list (112), ninth in RBI (51), ninth in walks (43), tenth in games played (178), and tenth in games started (172).

Callaway has been effective in replacing graduated Terrapin first baseman Kiesha Pickeral. Callaway's versatility has allowed her to assume many roles in the Terrapin infield. She spent the majority of last season as the starting third baseman and her freshman season as the starting second baseman.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA

The Cavaliers (29-20, 1-3 ACC) head into this weekend coming off a split with in-state rival Virginia Tech. UVa lost the first game, 6-5, but came back with a venegeance in game two, scoring seven runs in the first inning and ultimately winning the contest, 10-5. Virginia only had six hits in the second game, but eight walks proved to kill the Hokies staff.

Virginia's pitching staff sports the highest ERA in the ACC at 2.84. Maryland owns the second-highest ERA at 1.80.

The Wahoos have one of the most lethal offenses in the ACC. The team is batting .280, almost 50 points higher than Maryland. The Virginia bats are led by senior Ruby Rojas, who is fourth in the ACC with a .382 batting average. The second-most potent bat belongs to freshman Sara Larquier. She's batting .341 with an ACC-leading 49 RBI. Larquier also leads the league in home runs (11).

Another freshman star for the Cavaliers is pitcher Erin Horn. She leads the team with a 12-10 record and sports a 2.17 ERA. Horn is joined on the staff by another first year player, Christina Grimm. Grimm is 11-5 with a 2.76 ERA.

Virginia handed Maryland its season-ending loss at the ACC Tournament last season. The Terps were up on UVa 1-0 when the 'Hoos struck for a two-run third inning. The squad added two more in the seventh to close out the game and send the Terps into the off-season. Graduated Virginia ace Kristen Dennis tossed the complete game victory. Then-sophomore Monica Cyphert struck out eight in the loss.

Virginia's only ACC win this season came against Georgia Tech. The 'Hoos rallied in the third and fourth innings and staked a 6-1 lead over the lean-hitting Yellow Jackets.

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