Feb. 19, 2005

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Maryland softball team completed the round-robin portion of the Crimson Classic Saturday afternoon, falling to Penn State 7-1 at the Alabama Softball Stadium. Lindsay Klein had two hits on the day and has now had a hit in each of Maryland's first three games of the season, while Nikki Smith hit her first home run of the season.

Maryland (0-3) threatened early in the top of the first inning after Nneka Cardoza walked and Lindsay Klein singled to left field for the Terps' first hit. With runners at first and second base, however, the next two batters were retired by Penn State to keep a scoreless tie.

With the score still tied in the top of the fourth inning, Klein got her second hit of the game with a hard-hit single down the left field line. Second baseman Keri Lounge, the next batter, lined out to Penn State pitcher Missy Beseres and Klein was thrown out at first after the catch, ending the Terps' scoring chance.

Penn State (1-2) got a chance to put runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning after a Leigh Murray single, a Jenn Reynolds double and a Rebecca Bautista walk loaded the bases for the Nittany Lions. With two outs, however, Destinie Chavez hit a hard grounder to Terp third baseman Crystal Rizzuto, who ended the inning by making the throw to first base for the out.

The Nittany Lions capitalized on five hits, highlighted by a two-run Hollee Haines home run, and a Maryland fielding error in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead.

Penn State added three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Terp catcher Nikki Smith got Maryland on the board in the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run over the left field fence to make the score 7-1, but that would end up being the final score.

Maryland is seeded fourth entering bracket play of the Crimson Classic and will face either Missouri or No. 6 Alabama at 5 p.m. Livestats are available at www.rolltide.com. Sunday's tournament action features the consolation (noon) and championship (2 p.m.) games.