March 24, 2007
Box Score
Box Score
Charlottesville, Va. -
If the Maryland softball team wanted to make a statement in their ACC opener, they certainly didn't disappoint. The Terrapins opened conference play in explosive fashion with four grand slams in a doubleheader sweep of the Virginia Cavaliers, winning 15-1 and 8-3.
Lindsay Klein had one grand slam in each game for the Terps, who earned their largest ACC win ever in game one. The 15 runs also tied the mark for the most runs ever given up by the Cavaliers.
"We came out to play," said Maryland Coach Laura Watten. "We reached a really good level. We had everything today, defensively and offensively."
Amber Jackson also recorded a grand slam in the first game, while Jennifer Wellborn added one of her own in the game two. The Terrapins recorded 20 hits on the day.
"We've been working a lot on relaxing and not pressing so much." Watten said of her team's improved hitting. "We're focusing on the positives and trying to get the girls to step in and hit their pitch."
The Terps and Cavaliers opened the afternoon with three scoreless innings before Maryland blew open the game in the top of the fourth inning.
A single by Lindsay Klein and a walk of Jennifer Wellborn put runners on first and second as Keri Lounge stepped up to the plate. The senior belted a home run over the left field fence to break the scoreless tie and give the Terps a 3-0 lead.
The Terps went through the entire lineup in the fourth inning and Klein returned to the plate, with the bases loaded in front of her. She ripped the ball past the right center field wall, which stands 220 feet from home plate, for her second home run of the year, and the Terps led 8-0 after four innings.
A Cavalier run in the bottom of the fifth, extended the game into the sixth inning, but also gave the Terps a chance to score more runs.
Maryland would score seven more in that inning, including Jackson's grand slam, which ended the scoring at 15-1. In all nine different Terrapins crossed home plate in game one, and seven recorded RBIs.
Stacey Jennings improved to 5-7 with the win, while Virginia's Nicole Koren fell to 0-6.
Maryland avoided a let down in game two, and buried the Cavaliers again with powerful hitting.
The Terps loaded the bases in the third inning, and Klein, who never before hit one grand slam in a day, let alone two, again provided the scoring for the Terps. "I just wanted to have good contact and get a base hit," she said.
The senior connected perfectly on the 2-2 pitch and the ball sailed over the cameramen in dead center field. Jackson, Lindsey Ubrun and Jennings also scored on the play to give the Terps a 4-0 lead.
"She has really good game sense," Watten said of Klein, who was recently named a team captain along with Jackson, Jennings, and Wellborn. "She picks apart a lot of defenses and has a strong understanding of this level of play."
Jackson, Jennings, and Klein all singled to load the bases again in the fifth, and it was Jennifer Wellborn's turn to collect some RBIs. The senior catcher ripped the ball beyond center field for her sixth home run of the season, and the Terps had an 8-0 advantage.
The Cavaliers scored three runs late on a Brooke Sorber homer in the fifth inning to avoid being run-ruled, but they never seriously threatened, and Maryland came away with an 8-3 victory and a 2-0 ACC record.
Meredith Nelles (9-3) earned the win for Maryland, while Coty Tolar fell to 4-6 with the loss.
"This was the perfect way to start the ACC season." Klein said. "We started it off with a bang."
Maryland will go for the season sweep of Virginia in game three of the series, Sunday at 1 p.m.
