Softball Concludes Homestand with NC State
3/27/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland softball team wraps up a 17-game homestand when it plays host to a three-game series with Atlantic Coast Conference foe NC State this weekend in Robert E. Taylor Stadium. The Terrapins and Wolfpack play a doubleheader Saturday and finish the series with a single game Sunday. Due to weather concerns, the start times for Saturday's games have been moved to noon and 2 p.m. Sunday's contest remains at 1 p.m.
The Terrapins' current homestand, the longest in the program's history, has spanned the entire month of March, consisting of two tournaments, two conference series and single games against Towson and Northwestern. During the first 14 games of its home streak, Maryland has claimed eight victories.
Freshmen Kathy McLaughlin and Michelle Takeda, junior Nadine Blackie and sophomore Kerry Hickey have been Maryland's most productive hitters in Taylor Stadium so far this season. Through the first 14 home games, McLaughlin is batting .400 (14-of-35) with 13 runs, Blackie is hitting .368 (14-of-38) with eight runs and Hickey is batting .340 (16-of-47) with nine RBIs. Takeda has contributed five home runs and 12 RBIs during that span.
Senior Sarah Dooley has five victories on the mound at home, and fellow pitcher Hickey has two. Freshman Kendra Knight earned her first career win during the fourth game of the homestand - a 10-2 win over Dartmouth on March 8.
Maryland (14-15, 0-3 ACC) and NC State (15-11, 2-1 ACC) have been involved in very competitive matchups with one another the last several seasons. The squads have alternated victories during their last seven meetings, and each of the last four contests has been decided by two runs or less.
Each game this weekend between the Terrapins and the Wolfpack is free to the public, and parking will be available in Lots 4B and 9B.
Last Time Out
Maryland played one of the nation's top teams even for six innings but ultimately fell to No 8/10 Northwestern, 7-2, in nonconference action Wednesday evening in Taylor Stadium. Playing their fourth consecutive game against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Terrapins claimed a 2-1 advantage in the third inning. The Wildcats knotted the game at two during their ensuing at bat, and the score remained that way until a big seventh inning resulted in five more runs for Northwestern.
Kerry Hickey continued to demonstrate her ability to excel as a two-way player for Maryland. The Huntingtown, Md., native started on the mound and pitched four solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Hickey also knocked in one of Maryland's runs, when her hard single through the left side during the third inning enabled Nadine Blackie to score.
After Northwestern jumped on board with a run during the top of the third, Maryland went to work in its half of the inning. Blackie and Kathy McLaughlin drew walks and senior Breanna Shaw singled to left field to load the bases, setting the stage for Hickey's RBI hit. Fellow senior Devon Williams, who snared a lineout at third base to end the top of the third inning, followed with a bases-loaded walk to produce another run.
Kendra Knight relieved Hickey and pitched the final three innings for Maryland. The right-hander from Virginia Beach, Va., pitched two strong innings, striking out the side in the sixth, before the vaunted Wildcats' offense rallied in the seventh inning for five runs on two hits.
The Terps, who rank third in the ACC in fielding, played error-free softball for the 15th time this season to improve their team fielding percentage to .969.
Scouting the Competition
• NC State opened conference play by taking two of three games with Virginia last weekend. The Wolfpack, which ranks third in the ACC in team pitching (1.82 ERA), also split a doubleheader with No. 13/15 Ohio State earlier this week.
• Freshman Hannah Ojeda paces the Wolfpack in batting (.341) and stolen bases (five). Juniors Kristine Bechthol and Allison Presnell lead the team with five home runs apiece, and Presnell has a team-high 16 RBIs.
• Junior Lindsay Campana ranks sixth in the ACC with a 1.44 ERA to go along with a 7-5 record, eight complete games and 90 strikeouts in 87.1 innings. Senior Mendy McKenzie stands 6-4 with an ERA of 2.28 and three shutouts. Each of NC State's four pitchers this season boasts ERAs less than 2.30.
Series History
The all-time series between the Terps and Wolfpack is tied at 7-7, with the teams having alternated victories during their last seven meetings. Maryland and NC State have played in three of the last five ACC Tournaments (2004, 2005 and 2007), and the Terps have won each of those contests.
ACC Rankings
The Terps currently stand third in the ACC in fielding percentage (.969), fourth in doubles (26) and triples (seven) and fifth in batting (.271). Additionally, several Maryland softball players rank among the best in the ACC in their respective top statistical categories.
Junior Nadine Blackie:
• Ranks tied for sixth in the ACC in triples (two), seventh in on-base percentage (.468), eighth in batting (.364), 10th in slugging percentage (.545) and tied for 11th in stolen bases (seven).
Senior Sarah Dooley:
• Ranks tied for first in the ACC in saves (two), sixth in appearances (18), tied for eighth in games started (12) and tied for 10th in wins (six).
Sophomore Kerry Hickey:
• Ranks first in the ACC in games finished pitching (12), tied for first in relief appearances (14), tied for fourth in appearances (21), sixth in strikeouts (81), tied for eighth in wins (seven), 10th in ERA (2.31) and 10th in innings pitched (78.2). Offensively, Hickey is fourth in at bats (99), tied for sixth in doubles (five) and tied for 12th in hits (30).
Freshman Kendra Knight:
• Ranks first in the ACC in fewest hits allowed (31), fifth in opponents' batting average (.179) and 10th in strikeouts (69).
Freshman Kathy McLaughlin:
• Ranks tied for third in the ACC in triples (three).
Senior Breanna Shaw:
• Ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in doubles (six) and 14th in batting (.341).
Junior Alex Schultz
• Ranks tied for fifth in the ACC hits by pitch (five).
Freshman Michelle Takeda:
• Ranks sixth in the ACC in home runs (six).
Senior Devon Williams:
• Ranks tied for second in the ACC in sacrifice bunts (six).
Did You Know
Maryland's current 17-game homestand represents the longest in the program's 15-year history. The team's previous streak for most consecutive home games came in April of 1999, when the Terps played 14 straight contests in College Park.
Up Next
Following its series with NC State, Maryland opens conference road play by taking on Virginia in a three-game series in Charlottesville, Va., next weekend. The Terrapins and Cavaliers play at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 5.
