March 21, 2007
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
After more than a week off due to weather cancellations, the Maryland softball team returned to the field Wednesday and shut down Mount Saint Mary's, sweeping the doubleheader 5-0 and 3-1. The Terrapins have now won six straight, as they head into conference play this weekend.
Maryland senior Stacey Jennings earned a no-hitter with a complete game in the opener, striking out eight batters and walking only two. She improved to 4-7 on the year.
Terrapin Head Coach Laura Watten said that during her team's recent winning streak, Maryland is "getting out and taking control of games." She said that the Terps still need to find consistency both within games and from one contest to the next, however.
Maryland (14-10) had no problem controlling Mount Saint Mary's (3-11) on Wednesday. The Terps allowed seven hits in the second game with the Mount, but only one run. Meredith Nelles improved to 8-3 with the win, while Jamie Fowler (2-6) took the loss for the Mountaineers.
Jennings was equally impressive manning left field in game two, providing the highlight of the day with a double play in the fourth inning. With pinch runner Kristin Fusco on second base, and the Terps clinging to a 3-1 lead, Ashley Lodato hit the 1-1 pitch into shallow left field.
Jennings ran full speed and dove into the grass to make a seemingly impossible catch, then rifled the ball from her knees to shortstop Amber Jackson at second base. Jackson reached down and tagged out a stunned Fusco, who had moved off second in anticipation of Jennings missing the catch.
"Stacey is someone you always want on the field at all times," Watten said. "She has great game sense."
After the senior shut out the Mountaineers in the top of the first inning of game one, she moved to the batter's box to get things going on offense for the Terps in the bottom of the inning. With two outs on the board, she singled into right field and scored a few minutes later when Lindsay Klein nailed a double into left center field.
When the Terps came back up to bat in the second inning, Jennifer Wellborn started things off with a single to right center field. She stole second, and moved to third when Lindsey Ubrun grounded out to the second baseman. An Alex Schultz single brought Wellborn home, and the Terps had a 2-0 lead.
It was the beginning of perhaps Wellborn's best day as a Terp, as the senior transfer from Birmingham Southern recorded three hits, three RBIs and two home runs in the two games.
The first of those homers came in Wellborn's next at-bat, as the lead off hitter for the Terps to start the fourth inning with the score still 2-0. She took the first pitch and smashed it over the left field wall.
Later in the inning, Jackson and Schultz sat on second and third base respectively, with two outs on the board. Jenny Belak appeared to be out at first after hitting a grounder up the middle, but Mountaineer first baseman Allie Vadas failed to control the throw from shortstop, allowing Jenny Belak to get on base, and Schultz to run home for the score and a 4-0 Terps lead.
Belak then ran for second base, but was tagged out by shortstop Lisa Curreri on the throw from Vardas.
The Terrapins final run came courtesy of Jennings, who singled into center field in the sixth inning to drive home Jackson. Jennings had two hits on offense for the Terps, while allowing none by the Mountaineers from the pitcher's circle.
Reanna Tuczynski took the loss for the Mount, and fell to 1-5 on the year.
Maryland quickly jumped on Mount Saint Mary's in game two, as Jackson hit a triple, her first of the year, in the Terp's first at-bat. Jennings walked, and then stole second on the first pitch to Klein, who was batting third. The throw from Mountaineer catcher Amanda Burk was late, and Jackson raced home for the score as soon as the ball left Burk's hand, to give Maryland a quick 1-0 advantage.
The Mount tied the game in the third inning, after two errors by Jackson, allowed Ashley Lodato to first get on base and then score a few plays later. Jackson redeemed herself, with a spectacular catch to end the inning. With the bases loaded, Ashley Monsour hit a ball over Jackson to the hole in left center field. The senior shortstop raced into the outfield and caught the ball on the run to send the Mountaineers runners off the bags and back into the dugout.
The Terrapins regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning with Wellborn's second homer of the day, a two run shot which soared over the left field wall along almost the exact same trajectory as her home run in game one. The Terps had a 3-1 lead which they would not relinquish.
Maryland travels to Virginia Saturday to open ACC play. The Terps and Cavaliers play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., and a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
