April 22, 2007

Box Score

Blacksburg, Va. - Maryland rebounded Sunday to take the final game of the series from 20th ranked Virginia Tech by a score of 5-4. The Terps improved to 27-19 and 5-9 in the ACC, while the conference-leading Hokies fell to 38-13 and 13-4 in the ACC.

Reversing their opening inning futility from the day before, the Terps scored three first inning runs, to put the Hokies in an early hole. Virginia Tech had scored 12 runs combined in the opening innings of Saturday's doubleheader.

The Terrapin batters finally seemed to find an answer for reigning ACC pitcher of the year Angela Tincher, whom they were facing for the third consecutive game. Tincher fanned 17 batters in two games Saturday, and added 13 more strikeouts Sunday, but the Terps recorded seven hits Sunday.

Brittany Bessho doubled to drive in Amber Jackson and Jenny Belak who had singled to start the inning. Bessho later scored herself off of a Lindsay Klein hit to left field.

The Terps increased their lead to 4-0 when Devon Williams tripled off the right center field wall, and then scored on a wild pitch by Tincher.

The Hokies would not go quietly, however, and they responded quickly with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game, including a two RBI home run by Savre over the right center field fence.

The Terps weathered the storm and reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as Bessho doubled down the left field line and Sarde Stewart hit a double of her own to score the junior from second base. Later in that inning, Maryland put runners on second and third with no outs before Tincher asserted herself, and struck out three consecutive Terps to end the inning.

Tincher held the Terps scoreless from that point on, but Meredith Nelles stymied the Hokies on the offensive end to prevent any chance of a comeback.

The sophomore ace threw four strikeouts, and consistently forced the Hokie batters into easy fly outs and ground outs. She improved to 15-8 on the year with the win, while Tincher fell to 28-5.

With two outs on the board and a runner on first base, Virginia Tech gave Nelles and the Terps had a late scare when Caroline Stolle smashed a pitch from the Maryland starter deep towards the left field corner. The pro-Hokie crowd gasped and rose to their feet in anticipation, but the ball sailed just outside the orange foul pole. Several foul balls later, Stolle popped up to second baseman Keri Lounge, and the Terps had the win.

Maryland will return to College Park for a Wednesday doubleheader with Towson on April 25.