May 10, 2007
Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. -
With the season on the line and her back to the wall, Abbey Welch entered the pitcher's circle for the Terrapins with Maryland clinging to a 1-0 lead over 25th ranked NC State. Meredith Nelles had effectively controlled the game to that point, but Maryland Coach Laura Watten elected to go with Welch after NC State had loaded the bases at the top of the fifth inning. The senior performed brilliantly in the most difficult of situations, refusing to let Thursday's elimination game of the ACC Tournament mark the end of her collegiate career. Welch forced the Wolfpack to leave eight runners on base over the game's final three innings, and the Terps advanced to the second day of the tournament with a 3-2 victory.
For the second time in three seasons, Maryland eliminated the defending ACC champion from the championship. In 2005, the victim was Florida State, who fell 2-0 in College Park. The Terrapins will continue their quest for this year's title at 8 p.m. Friday against the winner of the 3 p.m. game between Virginia Tech and Florida State.
After Welch entered the game in the fifth inning, the senior forced Shanna Smith to hit a grounder to shortstop Amber Jackson, who threw to home plate for the force out, and then struck out Heather Gelbard to end the inning and get the Terps out of a huge bind.
"I was prepared, Welch said. "I felt confident in my pitches. I knew I just had to get a ground ball and let the defense do its work."
Their narrow escape seemed to give the Terps some confidence and momentum heading into the bottom of the inning. With Alex Schultz on first base, Amber Jackson smashed her 24th home run of the year to give her team a 3-0 cushion. With the home run, Jackson tied the ACC single-season record that Georgia Tech's Whitney Haller set a season ago.
The defending champion Wolfpack refused to go quietly, and they again loaded the bases at the top of the sixth with only one out away.
Welch never wavered, however, and she forced Smith, the next batter to foul out to Lindsay Klein at first base. With two outs now away, Allison Presnell hit a grounder to Jackson, who easily tagged second base to retire the side.
"It's my last go-round, so I might as well leave it all on the field." Welch said. "All of my infielders kept me calm."
Still the Terps could not put the Wolfpack away. Kristine Bechtoldt doubled to start the NC State rally, and Gelbard walked to put runners on first and second. Claudia Cooper singled past third base into left field, but Jackson tracked down the ball and flipped the ball to Brittany Bessho at third to get Bechtoldt, State's lead runner, for the second out.
Jen Chamberlin finally got the Pack on the board with a two-run double to center field which cut the Maryland lead to 3-2. Facing Abbie Sims, the freshly crowned ACC Player of the Year, Welch maintained her composure, and forced Sims to ground out to third base for the final out.
As the first base umpire signaled that Sims was out on the play, Welch began excitedly clapping her hands and jumping up and down with glee.
"I was so excited," Welch said of her celebration. "It was so rewarding. We came together as a team and we won together."
Nelles earned the win for Maryland to improve to 19-14 this season, while Welch got her second save of the year. NC State's Shaina fell to 13-11 with the loss.
