Feb. 19, 2005

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Maryland softball team rallied from a late one-run deficit to defeat Missouri, 3-2, in the semifinals of the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Terrapins won their first game of the year and improve to 1-3, while handing Missouri (7-1) its first loss of the season. The Tigers, who had knocked off No. 6/8 Alabama earlier in the day, were the top seed entering Saturday afternoon's bracket round, but were defeated by fourth-seeded Maryland. Maryland will play the winner of Alabama and Penn State in Sunday's 2 p.m. championship game.

Sophomore pitcher Abbey Welch (1-0) got her first career complete game victory, striking out three and retiring key batters to lead the Terps to victory.

With Missouri leading 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning, freshman Jenny Belak led off with a single up the middle. A batter later, Lindsay Klein extended her hit streak to four games with a single down the right field line and advanced Belak to second base. At this point, Natalie Grossman entered the game to pinch run for Klein, while Missouri made a pitching change. The next batter, Keri Lounge, blasted her second double of the year off Tiger pitcher Erica Peterson and drove in Belak to tie the score 2-2. A wild pitch by Peterson gave the Terps the go-ahead run as Grossman crossed home plate to give Maryland a 3-2 lead.

That lead would hold up, as Welch finished strong and the Terrapin defense did not allow the Tigers back in the game.

Maryland will face the winner of Alabama and Penn State in the championship game of the Crimson Classic on Sunday at 2 p.m.