April 21, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Blacksburg, Va. - In the first softball game at the Virginia Tech Softball Park since Monday's tragic shooting, the Maryland Terrapins fell twice to an inspired Hokie softball team 5-4 and 11-1.

Maryland's Amber Jackson stole the 100th base of her career early on in game one, making her only the 12th player in NCAA history to record 300 hits, 200 runs, and 100 stolen bases for career. The senior, who has been the Terps offensive leader all season, added two more home runs on the day, to push her ACC-leading total to 18.

She now has 331 hits, 249 runs, and 101 stolen bases for her career.

For the Virginia Tech team and its fans, the game was less about softball, and more about trying to return their campus to a sense of normalcy. Over 1200 fans attended the game, by far the most either team had seen all season, and the stands were packed to the point that the grass beyond left field was filled with orange and maroon clad fans.

The Hokies jumped out early in both games scoring four runs in the first inning of game one, and eight runs in the first stanza of game two.

Virginia Tech appeared to put game one of reach early, holding a 5-0 lead after two innings, and reigning ACC player of the year Angela Tincher in the pitcher's circle.

Tincher, however, left the game in the sixth inning in favor of Heather Lowry, and the Terps took advantage, pushing the Hokies to the limit with four runs in the seventh inning.

Jackson homered over the center field wall to score Brittany Bessho and Alex Schultz, and Jackson's sister Sarde Stewart hit a home run of her own to left field to bring the Terps within one. It was Stewart's first home run of the year.

Tincher then reentered the game for Lowry, and third baseman Beth Walker, leaning into the Hokies dug out, caught a foul ball to retire Lindsay Klein and end the Terps rally bid, and win the game 5-4 for Virginia Tech.

Jackson, the ACC's home run leader, knocked her second one out of the ballpark to start off game two, but that would end the scoring for the Terps.

The Hokies scored eight runs in the first inning and never looked back, en route to an 11-1 win in five innings.

Tincher recorded 17 strikeouts on the day, and added two more wins to improve to 29-4 on the year. Stacey Jennings (9-10) and Meredith Nelles (14-8) took losses for the Terps.

Maryland and Virginia Tech will square off once more in the series finale, Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Terrapin players constructed bracelets that read "strength" the night before the game, and presented their handicrafts to the Hokie players in a pre-game ceremony. Maryland also wore maroon arm bands for the game with the date "4-16-07" of the shooting written on them.

Members of the 3-2-1 Club (Compiled with help from the 2007 NCAA Softball Records Book)

• Amber Jackson, BCC/Maryland (2003-Present) 331 hits, 249 runs, 101 SB

• Nicole Barber, Georgia (2001-04):
379 hits, 266 runs, 257 SB
• Natasha Watley, UCLA (2000-03):
395 hits, 252 runs, 158 SB
• Kelly Krestchman, Alabama (1998-01):
368 hits, 288 runs, 133 SB
• Alison McCutcheon, Arizona (1995-98):
405 hits, 289 runs, 148 SB
• Amy Chellevold, Arizona (1992-95):
371 hits, 252 runs, 113 SB
• Lauren Bauer, Arizona (1998-01):
349 hits, 238 runs, 133 SB
• Shamalene Wilson, Florida St. (1993-96):
310 hits, 223 runs, 161 SB
• Tiff Tootle, South Carolina (1990-93):
351 hits, 207 runs, 114 SB
• Lindsay Schutzler, Tennessee (2004-Present):
341 hits, 227 runs, 112 SB
• Caitlin Lowe, Arizona (2004-Present)
319 hits, 226 runs, 143 SB
• Norrelle Dickson, Oklahoma (2004-P):
312 hits, 226 runs, 103 SB