Maryland Softball Takes On No. 2 Florida State Sunday

April 17, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland softball team (25-17, 1-3 ACC) will host Florida State University (46-5, 3-1 ACC) Sunday, April 18 in an ACC doubleheader. The first game will begin at noon. Admission and parking to the Terrapin Softball Complex are free. Fans in attendance will receive a free 2004 Maryland softball poster schedule and can also participate in a youth clinic following the second game.

LEARN FROM THE TERPS!

All youth fans attending today's doubleheader are invited to stay after the second game for a pitching and fielding clinic. The Terrapin coaching staff and players will share their expertise with any interested fans!

SHUT 'EM OUT

Terrapin hurlers Jessica Aditays (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Monica Cyphert (Warren, Ohio) pitched 5-0 and 3-0 shutouts, respectively against James Madison on Saturday. Both Aditays and Cyphert picked up their third shutouts of the season with the wins.

Cyphert's 3-0 shutout was the second she's contributed to in as many games. She threw a combined no-hitter against St. Francis last Thursday.

In Saturday's doubleheader sweep against James Madison, the Terrapins gave up only three hits in each game.

SCOUTING No. 2 FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles (46-5, 3-1 ACC) had a 23-game ACC win streak snapped Saturday by Virginia. The Seminoles were winning the game, 4-1, but Virginia battled back to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 5-4 win. The Seminoles took the first game of the conference doubleheader, 1-0.

Florida State boasts an impressive 10-3 record against ranked opponents this season. Jacksonville and Virginia are the only unranked teams to beat the Seminoles.

All-American Jess van der Linden leads the ACC in pitching with a 0.54 ERA. She also ranks among the league's best hitters with a .380 batting average. FSU's other starting pitcher, Casey Hunter, sports the third-best ERA in the conference at 0.64.

Freshman sensation Veronica Wootson carries a .355 batting average into Sunday's doubleheader. Wootsen also demonstrates a powerful stroke, ranking second on the Seminoles with six home runs and eight doubles.

LaMANDRE HITS 300

Maryland head coach Gina LaMandre collected her 300th career coaching victory against St. Francis last Thursday in a 10-2 win.

LaMandre, who has been the only head coach in Terrapin history, started her head coaching career at Maryland in 1995.

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

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

The head coach 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 selected as the ACC Coach of the Year in 1999.

UNTOUCHABLES

In Thursday's doubleheader against St. Francis, Maryland pitchers Cyphert and freshman Elyse Lucas (Newbury, Ohio) combined to no-hit the Red Flash in a five-inning, 9-0 win. Cyphert pitched four innings and Lucas pitched one inning to close out the no-hitter.

The no-hitter marked Cyphert's first since last season. Her last no-hitter was an individual effort April 13, 2003 against Coppin State.

Lucas is no stranger to combined no-hit performances. She combined with senior Liz Gall (Bothell, Wash.) to no-hit Rhode Island back on Feb. 21.

BACK ON TRACK

Junior shortstop Nneka Cardoza (Brockton, Mass.) missed four games after suffering an ankle injury in Maryland's March 28 contest against Pittsburgh. Cardoza returned last weekend for the Terrapins' ACC match-ups against North Carolina and NC State.

Since her return, Cardoza has elevated her batting average from .349 to .364. She's gone 10-for-24 (.417), scored eight runs and collected three RBI in her last six games.

FAB FRESHMAN

Freshman second baseman Keri Lounge (Pasadena, Md.) currently ranks among Maryland's top hitters with a .339 batting average.

In her past four games, Lounge has gone 6-for-13 (.462) with five RBI and four runs scored.

Maryland Softball Takes On No. 2 Florida State Sunday

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