April 30, 2003

Game 1 | Game 2

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland's junior hurlers Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) and Liz Gall (Bothell, Wash.) were masterful for the second straight day, shutting out local rival Towson (26-18-1, 7-5 CAA) in both ends of a twinbill, 3-0 and 8-0. Yesterday the duo combined for a complete game no-hitter against George Washington. The Terps (22-16, 1-7 ACC) have blanked their opponents in their past five wins and in four consecutive games. The game two win also marks Maryland's thirteenth consecutive non-conference victory.

Gall (1-1), who started game two, came within three outs from pitching her first complete game no-hitter. The Terrapins were up 7-0 going into the fifth inning. Had the Terps scored a run in the fifth, the game would have ended due to the mercy rule and Gall would have locked her no-hit performance. Maryland walked, singled, and walked to load the bases with two outs in the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.) smacked a hard line drive to the left side of the diamond but the ball was fielded cleanly on the fly by Tiger shortstop Katie Mumbauer to end the inning and prolong the game.

Pinch hitter Amanda Bryant led off the sixth and tagged Gall for the Tiger's lone hit, a single to right field. The Terps closed out the win in the sixth. Shortstop Malissa Moczulski (Burlington, N.J.) led off with a single to right field and was erased at second on a fielder's choice. Jillian Callaway (Brandywine, Md.) who had a career-high four RBI in the game, singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Catcher Casey Leiter (Lake Stevens, Wash.) put the game to rest on a single down the left field line that scored pinch runner Shelly Rollison (Fairfax Station, Va.) and notched the 8-0 win. Seven Terps knocked hits in the game and Moczulski, Callaway, Leiter, and Crystal Tweedy (Dumfries, Va.) had multiple-hit games. Beth Wilcox (10-10) took the loss for the Tigers.

The Terps took advantage of one shaky inning in an otherwise solid performance by Towson starter Jessica Wides in game one. Maryland started off the fourth with an infield single by Cyphert. Callaway then reached on an error and Leiter walked to load the bases. Crystal Rizzuto (San Leandro, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score the first run. Pinch hitter Jen Peel (St. Leonard, Md.) followed Rizzuto's lead and also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to center. Maryland went up 3-0 on a RBI single by Tweedy.

Cyphert (14-8), who pitched game one, started out impressively as she struck out the side in the first inning. She ended the game with seven strikeouts. The win marks her eleventh straight over non-conference opponents. Wides dropped to 12-8 in the loss.

Maryland will end its action-packed week at home Thursday against Maryland-Eastern Shore. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 5 p.m.