April 29, 2003

Game 1 | Game 2

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Juniors Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) and Liz Gall (Bothell, Wash.) hurled their ways to a combined no-hit shutout in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader against first-year softball program George Washington (3-32, 0-12 Atlantic 10). The tandem has a history of perfection, as it combined to pitch a perfect game against Morgan State in 2001. Maryland swept the doubleheader from the Colonials, winning both games 6-0.

Samantha Sweeney (Marlton, N.J.) started things off with a walk in the top of the first. She advanced to second on a bunt single by second baseman Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.). Both runners advanced into scoring position after a passed ball by catcher Sammi Sordi. A pitch later, Terrapin shortstop Malissa Moczulski (Burlington, N.J.) grounded out to short. First baseman Jennifer Lawrence fired the ball home in hopes of catching the speedy Sweeney, who charged home on the play. Sweeney's backdoor slide narrowly escaped catcher Sammi Sordi's tag attempt. Cardoza scored the second run of the inning on the following play, a sacrifice fly by Cyphert.

The Terps (20-16, 1-7 ACC) scored two more runs in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Sweeney and Cardoza. Maryland made its final two-run assault in the fifth inning when Cyphert smacked a her sixth home run of the season, a single-season career best, to right center and Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) scored on Crystal Tweedy's (Dumfries, Va.) RBI single to right.

Maryland's big offensive inning came in the fifth. The team had already staked a 3-0 lead, but posted three more runs thanks to doubles by Cyphert, freshman catcher Rachel Greyson (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.), and Moczulski. Third baseman Crystal Rizzuto (San Leandro, Calif.) singled in Moczulski to put Maryland ahead for good, 6-0.

Cyphert (13-8) struck out nine in five innings of work for the win. Gall struck out three in two effective relief innings. Jaclyn Sanderson (1-10) took the loss for the Colonials.

Gall, who had not pitched since a Mar. 7 loss to Michigan State, came back to start game two for the Terps. She fanned four Colonials and gave up only three hits in her three innings of work. Sophomore Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) took over in the fourth and pitched four innings to pick up her seventh victory of the season.

Sweeney, Cyphert, Callaway, and Tweedy had three hits apiece in the twinbill. The Terps never allowed a George Washington runner past second base during both games.

The Terps will be back in action Wednesday in a local doubleheader against the Towson Tigers (26-16-1, 7-5 CAA). Game time is set for 5 p.m.