Feb. 28, 2009

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. - Pitchers Kendra Knight, Kerry Hickey and Sarah Dooley collaborated on the Terrapins' first shutout of the season and senior Breanna Shaw continued her torrid hitting of late to lead the University of Maryland softball team past Centenary College, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Stetson Hatter Classic.

The Terrapins' trio combined to blank Centenary College on five hits, as Knight, a freshman making her sixth start of the season, and Hickey pitched three scoreless innings apiece. Hickey (5-2) earned her career-best fifth win of the season and third consecutive victory after relieving Knight during the fourth inning. Dooley pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up her second save in as many games versus Centenary College.

Shaw went 3-for-4 at the plate and now has eight hits in 12 at-bats (.667) during the first four games of the Hatter Classic. The Ellenwood, Ga., native raised her season batting average to .405.

Their collective performance enabled Maryland (6-9) to emerge victorious against Centenary College for the second time in as many days and to rebound from a 10-1 defeat at the hands of Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky earlier Saturday. Sophomore Niki Lau and junior Nadine Blackie added two hits apiece against Centenary College, and both played integral roles in the Terps' run-producing innings.

Maryland jumped on the scoreboard during the second inning against Centenary College, as senior Devon Williams and Blackie contributed singles, and Lau slapped a base hit to left center field to drive in the game's first run.

The Terps, who pounded out 10 hits versus Centenary College, managed two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, despite not recording a hit. After Blackie, Lau and freshman Vangie Galindo drew consecutive two-out walks to load the bases, Maryland platted a pair of runs by virtue of a wild pitch and a balk.

Hickey, a native of Huntingtown, Md., worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam during the bottom of the fourth inning to preserve the shutout. The Maryland defense recorded consecutive force-outs at home plate with the bases loaded.

Sophomore Jessica Bock (5-4) took the loss after allowing all three runs in 5.1 innings of work for Centenary College (10-6).

Earlier in the day, Kentucky prevailed over Maryland after producing big innings at the plate in the first, third and sixth innings. Dooley (1-4) allowed four earned runs in four innings in a losing effort.

Sophomore Jennifer Anderson accounted for Maryland's run in the bottom of the sixth when her first career sacrifice fly scored Galindo, who led off the inning with a single. Junior Alex Schultz, who drove in the game-winning run in Maryland's victory over Stetson Friday evening, added a double in her first plate appearance.

Freshman ace Chanda Bell (5-1) went the distance for the Wildcats (8-4), who remained undefeated during the Stetson Hatter Classic.

Maryland concludes the Hatter Classic with a rematch against Kentucky at 11 a.m. Sunday at Stetson's Patricia Wilson Field. Live stats for Sunday's game will be available at the following link: Hatter Classic Live Stats

Maryland (6-9)           010 002 0 -  3 10  0
Centenary College (10-6) 000 000 0 -  0  5  1

LOB - Maryland 10; Centenary 14. 2B - Haley Bassett. HBP - Alex Schultz. SB - Kathy McLaughlin; Lauren Ghent; Nadine Blackie. CS - Kathy McLaughlin. W - Kerry Hickey (5-2). L - Jessica Bock (5-4). S - Sarah Dooley (2).

Kentucky (8-4)           303 004 0 - 10  8  0
Maryland (5-9)           000 020 1 -  1  2  2

LOB - Kentucky 4; Maryland 2. 2B - Samantha DeMartine; Alex Schultz. 3B - Molly Johnson; Katie McCarty. HBP - Meagan Aull. SH - Meagan Aull; Annie Rowlands. SF - Jennifer Anderson. SB - Molly Johnson. CS - Meagan Aull. W - Chanda Bell (5-2). L - Sarah Dooley (1-4).