April 9, 2005

Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Terrapin softball team split games at Virginia Saturday, bouncing back to defeat the Cavaliers, 1-0, in game two after dropping a 2-1 decision in game one. Crystal Crews pitched a complete-game shutout for her first ACC victory and Maryland's ninth win in its last 10 games.

In both games, the Terrapins took a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. Virginia rallied to win game one, but Maryland held for the second-game victory.

In game one, Keri Lounge reached first base on a fielding error by Virginia shortstop Kierstie Cameron to begin the second inning. Terp catcher Nikki Smith followed with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, advancing Lounge to second base. The next batter, Lauren Pollock, extended her hit streak to six games with an RBI single that scored Lounge and gave the Terps a 1-0 lead.

Virginia threatened in its half of the second inning, as Jenn Wynn earned the first Cavalier hit of the day and Kathryn Mirras followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Whitney Holstun advanced the runners to second and third base, but the Terrapin defense caught Mirras attempting to steal home and then Terp starter Jessica Aditays struck out Amy McKean to end the inning.

Belak hit a two-out single up the middle for her second hit of the game in the third, but a Terrapin strikeout ended the half-inning and the lead remained 1-0.

Virginia had baserunners at first and third base with one out in the bottom of the third, but Aditays again came up with a clutch strikeout for the second out. Jenn Wynn, the Cavaliers' cleanup batter, knocked a hard-hit ball to right field, but Terp outfielder Jenny Belak made a great over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning.

It was a similar scenario in Virginia's fourth inning, as runners were in scoring position with one out but Aditays struck out Cavalier designated player Amy McKean and Terp Crystal Tweedy made a running catch in left field for the third out.

Maryland had two more scoring chances following fifth-inning singles by Tweedy and Belak and a runner in scoring position in the seventh inning, but the Terps did not add any runs to their slim lead.

The Cavaliers rallied to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and Whitney Holstun's RBI double proved to be the difference in the game.

Despite allowing just four hits and striking out six, Aditays took the loss and went to 5-3 on the year, while Jenny Belak had a team-best 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Coty Tolar earned the complete-game victory for Virginia and improved to 6-9 on the season.

Crystal Rizzuto got the Terps going in the second game with a fifth-inning single to right field. Virginia outfielder Jessica Taylor didn't handle the ball cleanly, committing a fielding error that allowed Rizzuto to advance to second base. After Whitney Reigel entered the game to pinch run for Rizzuto, junior Natalie Grossman walked. The next batter, Crystal Tweedy, popped up a bunt to third baseman Sarah Larquier, but Larquier's attempt to pick off Grossman at first base was wild and advanced both runners a base. Later in the inning with two outs and runners at second and third base, Nneka Cardoza bounced a ball to shortstop Keirstie Cameron, who committed an error to allow Reigel to cross home plate and give Maryland a 1-0 lead.

Rizzuto finished the game as the only Terp with multiple hits, and Keri Lounge had the only other Terrapin hit (a single in the sixth inning.)

Virginia (15-22, 4-3 ACC) threatened in the sixth, as the `Hoos loaded the bases with two outs, but Terp pitcher Crystal Crews struck out Cameron to end the inning.

For the second time in as many games, Maryland (19-11, 3-2 ACC) took a one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but this time the Terps put the Cavs away and got the win.

Crews (4-2) allowed four hits and struck out five for the victory, while Erin Horn was the losing pitcher and now has a 5-6 record.

The series at Virginia concludes with a single game Sunday at The Park. First pitch is scheduled for noon and Gametracker is available at umterps.com.