April 5, 2008
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Senior Brittany Bessho's two-run home run in the sixth inning propelled the University of Maryland softball team to a victory over Florida State, 3-1, Saturday afternoon. It was the Seminoles' first road loss of the year. In the second game, two Florida State pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Terps. Maryland moves to 26-10 on the season, 2-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while FSU moves to 31-14, 7-4 in ACC play.
In the second inning, Breanna Shaw singled to center field before advancing to second on a Devon Williams' sacrifice bunt. Senior Meghan Booth singled to score Shaw to give the Terps a 1-0 advantage.
The Maryland defense was excellent behind starter Sarah Dooley, highlighted by Jenny Belak's diving catch in the fourth inning to rob Robin Ahrberg of a hit and the Seminoles of having two runners on with no outs.
In the sixth inning, Kerry Hickey doubled down the left field line before Bessho stepped up and hit her third home run of the season.
In the seventh, Florida State's Jessica Gilmore singled in Ashley Stager to cut the Terps lead to two before the Seminoles loaded the bases with one out. Maryland's Devon Williams fielded Carly Wynn's sharply hit ball and alertly fired home to Bessho, who completed the double play by throwing to Alex Schultz covering at third to end the game.
Dooley finished the game with six strikeouts while scattering five hits to improve to 11-7. Florida State starter Tiffany McDonald struck out seven in a complete game, but fell to 13-4.
In the second game, Florida State took the lead on an Allison Collins two-run single in the fourth inning. The Seminoles added a run in the fifth on an Ashley Stager suicide squeeze bunt that scored Wynn.
Maryland starter Meredith Nelles allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, striking out three and took the loss to fall to 9-3. Dooley came on in relief and pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing zero hits.
Florida State starter Sarah Hamilton (8-1) pitched four scoreless innings while only allowing three hits. Terese Gober pitched three innings of relief for the save.
Florida State 000 000 1 1 5 0
Maryland 010 002 X 3 6 0
Tiffany McDonald and Jessica Gilmore;
Sarah Dooley and
Brittany Bessho. W - Dooley, 12-7. L - McDonald 13-4. HR - Bessho (3).
Florida State 000 210 0 3 4 0
Maryland 000 000 0 0 3 0
Sarah Hamilton, Terese Gober (5) and Jessica Gilmore;
Meredith Nelles,
Sarah Dooley (5) and
Brittany Bessho. W - Hamilton, 8-1. L - Nelles, 9-3. S - Gober.
