Feb. 17, 2007
St. John's Box Score
Long Island Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Maryland Terrapins were clicking on all cylinders on the second day of the Dunkin' Donuts Classic at Florida Atlantic University. The Terps defeated St. John's 8-1 in game one, and ended the day with a 4-1 win over Long Island.
Senior shortstop Amber Jackson continued her phenomenal play, belting two more home runs, including her second grand slam in as many games. She now has four home runs and 13 RBIs through the first four games of the season.
"The biggest thing she's bringing is leadership. She is really executing consistently," said Head Coach Laura Watten.
With the game versus St. John's scoreless to start the third inning, Jackson was walked for the second time in the game. She stole second and advanced to third on a fly out by Lindsey Ubrun. Lindsay Klein then hit a single into right field to drive Jackson home and get the Terps on the board.
Jennifer Wellborn, Jenny Belak, and Alex Schultz all singled in the fourth inning with one out on the board, setting up Jackson's second grand slam of the tournament. Lindsey Ubrun scored from first base after St. John's Shauntine Harris failed to make a catch in deep center field off a Lindsay Klein hit. Maryland's explosive fourth inning gave them a 6-0 lead on the Red Storm.
Devon Williams hit a single down the right field line to get on base in the seventh inning, and Keri Lounge, batting next, homered over the left field wall for the game's final two runs.
Danielle Estrada scored St. John's only run on an error by the Terps in the fifth inning.
While the Terps put up some impressive offensive numbers, they shined on the defensive side of the ball as well, with only two errors on the day.
"We played very solid defense all around," Watten said. "We did a great job base running and executing the strategic aspects of the game which we had set up before hand."
Meredith Nelles and Stacey Jennings turned in excellent performances from the pitching circle, striking out 10 batters on the day, and giving up only one earned run and eight hits.
Watten was impressed with both pitchers. "Stacey is doing really well, and Meredith is throwing much better than I've seen her throw before, and she is coming off back surgery," she said. St. John's Lisa Geer was credited with the loss.
The second game, an 11 a.m. tilt with the Long Island Blackbirds, featured more of the same for the Terps. This time Maryland struck early, as Alex Schultz singled up the middle, and Jackson hit her fourth home run of the tournament, a deep shot to left field, to drive in both runs.
Jennifer Wellborn continued the Terrapins batting clinic with a home run to left field to lead off the second inning. Maryland has hit at least one home run in each game so far this season, and multiple home runs in each of their last three games.
Opposing pitchers have already begun to recognize Jackson as a dangerous hitter, and walked her four times on the day. With five stolen bases on the day, including a fifth-inning steal of home plate, she proved she can be effective without the bat in her hand.
Nelles (2-0) earned her second win of the year, with the victory over St. John's, and Jennings improved to 1-1 with the Terps 4-1 win over the Blackbirds. Jenny Giles took the loss for Long Island.
