April 2, 2003

Game 1 | Game 2

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For three games in a row, the Terps (11-11) have slugged 12 hits that have generated wins. Today's victim was George Mason (14-12), who fell 11-1 in six innings and 8-3 in a doubleheader against Maryland.

The Patriots struck first in the opening game, scoring a run off sacrifice fly by Kim Braxton. The Terrapins didn't stay behind for long, however. Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) led off a homer to right field, her first of the season and second of her career. After a fielding miscue, sacrifice bunt, and fly-out, senior first baseman Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) singled in Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.) to put the Terps up for good, 2-0.

The next big inning for Maryland came in the fourth when the Terps put up a five-spot. With one out, freshman Natalie Grossman (Skillman, N.J.) and Crystal Tweedy (Dumfries, Va.) hit back-to-back singles. After Sweeney walked to load the bases, Cardoza drove in two runs with a single to centerfield. Sophomore shortstop Malissa Moczulski (Burlington, N.J.) then singled to knock in a run and Callaway continued the hit parade with an RBI triple, her first of the season and second of her career.

With the Terps up 7-1, George Mason threatened in the top of the sixth. Missy Hartman led off with an infield single. Teammate Kim Braxton followed with a single to left center. Jen Schultz walked to load the bases. Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) and the Maryland defense managed to hold the Patriots with a combination of a fly-out, pop-out, and strike out to finish off the Patriots.

The Terp offense came out strong once again in the bottom of the sixth. Sweeney led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch by losing pitcher Rene Leveque (3-5). Cardoza added an RBI double to her 3-for-4 three RBI game to put the Terps up 8-1. Moczulski reached first on an infield single to put runners on the corners for Cyphert. The double-threat ended the game on the mercy rule with a 3-run bomb to left center. Cyphert (6-6) proved to be commanding on the mound as well as at the plate. She struck out nine and allowed four hits from the circle in the complete game victory.

The offensive onslaught carried over to the second game. The Terps scored a run in the first when they took advantage of two fielding errors by George Mason. In the following inning, Maryland rallied with two outs to score four runs. Cyphert went yard for the second time on the day, blasting a pitch over the left center wall to bring in two runs.

Cardoza, Callaway, Crystal Rizzuto (San Leandro, Calif.), and Tweedy all had multiple-hit games in the night cap. Starting pitcher Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) allowed only three hits and struck out four to earn her fifth victory this season. Kathy Hrycyna (2-3) took the loss for the Patriots.

Maryland will grace the diamond again this Sunday as they take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (26-15) in an ACC doubleheader. The Terrapins lost a 1-0 nine-inning contest to Georgia Tech earlier this season at the Buzz Classic.