LaMandre And Maryland Softball Go For 300

April 14, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland softball team will host St. Francis University of Pennsylvania this Thursday in a doubleheader at the Terrapin Softball Complex. The first game is set for 3:30 p.m. Fans who attend the games may witness a historical day in Maryland softball, as head coach Gina LaMandre goes for both her 300th career win and 300th win at Maryland.

LaMANDRE GOES FOR 300

Terrapin softball head coach Gina LaMandre reached career win No. 298 with a 1-0 victory last Saturday against NC State. At the earliest, LaMandre can reach 300 if Maryland wins both its games against St. Francis.

The win will not only mark LaMandre's 300th career win, but it will also mark the 300th win in Maryland softball history. LaMandre, who began her head coaching career at Maryland, built the Maryland program in 1995 and has served as its only head coach.

LaMandre has received several accolades throughout her career. She was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 1999. She was also chosen as the ACC Coach of the Year in 1999.

Under LaMandre's coaching, the Terrapins were the co-champions of the ACC in 1997 and reached the NCAA Regional Finals in 1999.

LaMandre notched her 100th career win against George Mason (April 28, 1998) and her 200th career win against Princeton (March 24, 2001).

SCOUTING ST. FRANCIS

The Red Flash enter Thursday's doubleheader with a 5-19 overall record and 3-3 record in the Northeast Conference.

St. Francis ended a six-game skid last Saturday against Mount St. Mary's in Northeast Conference play. The 4-1 win was keyed by left fielder Siobhan Gerber's home run.

St. Francis' offense is led by junior outfielder Cassie Scofield. She sports a .333 batting average. Gerber, the team's power threat, has a team-high six home runs and 13 RBI on the season. Both Scofield and Gerber are tops on the team with 14 and 10 stolen bases respectively.

The Red Flash's pitching relies mostly on the arms of Amanda Pighetti and Christine Chasko. Pighetti has a team-best four wins and 3.75 ERA. Chasko leads the team with 16 appearances this season.

TIME ON TOBACCO ROAD

The Terrapins opened up their ACC schedule last Saturday against first-year softball program NC State. Maryland dropped the first game of the conference doubleheader, 5-0, but regrouped to take the second game 1-0. In the second game, junior Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) threw seven innings of shutout ball to pave the way to victory. The shutout was Aditays' second on the season and her ninth complete game.

Even though North Carolina swept Maryland in Sunday's ACC contests, some players had bright spots in the losses. Senior Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) hit her second home run of the season. Junior Crystal Rizzuto (San Leandro, Calif.) raised her batting average to .292 after having a multi-hit game against the Tar Heels.

Shortstop Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.) returned to the Terrapin lineup last weekend after missing four games with an ankle injury. Cardoza had one hit in her first game back and is second on the team and ninth in the ACC with a .333 batting average.

CONFERENCE PLAY CONTINUES

Maryland will resume ACC play this Sunday when it hosts No. 2 Florida State at noon. After the doubleheader, Maryland fans can stay for a hitting, pitching and fielding clinic taught by the Terrapins and their coaching staff.

The Maryland softball team also invites all troops out to Girl Scout Day on April 18. All registered Girl Scout troops in attendance will have their troop announced at the game.

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