Maryland Softball Heads to Tampa for the USF-Louisville Slugger Tournament
3/1/2007 7:00:00 AM | Softball
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March 1, 2007
Maryland travels back to Florida this week for the USF-Louisville Slugger Tournament, the Terrapins' third consecutive weekend tournament. The Terps' went 3-2 in their last trip to Florida for the FAU Dunkin' Donuts Classic two weeks ago.
Maryland will open in Tampa with Central Michigan at 9 a.m. on March 2, and play again later that day against the Aggies of New Mexico State, who are off to the program's best start ever at 12-4.
On Saturday March 3, the Terps will take on Auburn (1:30 p.m.) and Utah (8 p.m.).
The Terrapins close out the weekend with a tilt against tournament host South Florida, who has been in and out of the NFCA top-25 all season. That game will take place March 4, at 1:30 p.m.
Last weekend Maryland finished 2-4 at the Palm Springs Classic against top tier competition at the nation's premier softball tournament. Maryland won its first two games of the weekend, beating Nevada and 10th ranked Texas, before faltering in the tournament's later games.
The highlight of Maryland's weekend was the Terps' upset of the Longhorns.
The Terrapins gave up two runs in the top of the seventh to erase a 2-0 lead, and the game appeared to be headed for extra innings.
Jenny Belak rallied the Terps, however, with a triple to left field, and then scored on a bizarre play, in which Texas pitcher Meagan Denny threw a wild pitch on an attempted walk of Amber Jackson, giving the Terps an improbable 3-2 victory. Texas catcher Megan Willis stepped well to the side of Jackson, but Denny threw the ball hard and well over Willis's head.
Belak, who stole 13 bases a year ago, was off the bag and racing towards home plate as soon as the ball was past the pitcher's glove. She slid in safe beneath Denny, as the Maryland dugout exploded onto the field.
A radio broadcast of the Terrapins' game on Sunday against South Florida is available for listening on the internet by going South Florida's website, www.gousfbulls. Fans can access the radio feature by signing up for the press pass on USF's website and the cost is around $4.95 for one month.
