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May 1, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Hoping to gain some momentum heading into the ACC tournament, Maryland moves into its final week of action with games against Penn State Wednesday, and a weekend series with Boston College on deck. Game one of the Penn State doubleheader will be broadcast nationally on CSTV.

The Terps stand at 30-21 overall and 6-11 in the ACC, while the Nittany Lions are currently 24-20 and 5-7 in the Big 10.

The Terps had their most thrilling win of the year the last time CSTV was in College Park, a 3-2 victory over then 19th ranked North Carolina. Amber Jackson delivered with a clutch walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to upset the Tar Heels on national television. Maryland is coming off a weekend series with the NC State Wolfpack, in which the Terps earned a come from behind 7-4 victory over the defending ACC champs. Over 518 fans attended that game on Maryland Day, marking the largest attendance at Robert E. Taylor Stadium in two years.

Lindsay Klein homered twice in that game to rally the Terps from a 4-1 deficit in the fifth inning and give Maryland a huge win.

Jackson also homered in that game for her 20th of the year. The senior leads the ACC in home runs and four other offensive categories, including stolen bases and walks per game. While the other ACC teams besides Boston College have completed their regular seasons, the Terps have five games remaining, so Jackson will have a chance to add to her already spectacular numbers.

Maryland needs only one victory over the Eagles this weekend to wrap up the sixth seed in the ACC tournament. In that scenario, the Terps would face Georgia Tech in the tournament's opening game on Thursday May 10 at 10 a.m. Boston College currently sits in the seventh slot, but can pass the Terps with a series sweep.

Wednesday's date with Penn State should be challenging for the Terps. Maryland has won its last 16 games against non-conference opponents, but has not had much success against Penn State throughout the years.

The Nittany Lions have a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series, and defeated the Terrapins 7-1 when the teams last met in 2005. Maryland's lone victory over Penn State came in 2002, when the Terps soundly beat the Nittany Lions 5-1.

Danielle Kinley sets the tone for the Lions offensively with a .408 average, 53 hits, 16 doubles, and 28 RBIs. Ashley Esparza leads the Lions with seven homers.

Penn State blew out Indiana on Saturday by a score of 14-1, highlighted by a grand slam by sophomore Kayce Zielinski. The native of Arlington, Tex. is batting .304 with five homers and 24 RBIs on the year.

The ACC is 5-12 versus teams from the Big 10 this season. Maryland is 0-2, with both losses coming at the hands of Michigan in the Terp's season opening tournament at Florida Atlantic.