March 8, 2009

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Back-to-back strong pitching outings from senior Sarah Dooley and freshman Kendra Knight and the Terps' best offensive outburst of the season paved the way for the University of Maryland softball team to be crowned champions of the Maryland Round Robin.

The Terrapins edged Gardner-Webb, 1-0, Sunday midday then returned to the diamond later in the afternoon to clobber Dartmouth, 10-2, in tournament's championship contest in Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Maryland (9-10) finished the four-team tournament with a 3-1 record, outscoring its opponents by a combined total of 19 to 6.

One game after Dooley held the Bulldogs scoreless through five innings, Knight, a right-hander from Virginia Beach, Va., pitched five strong innings of her own, striking out seven with overpowering velocity to earn her first collegiate victory. Sophomore Kerry Hickey, a Huntingtown, Md. product, finished the job on the mound in both contests, recording her first save of the season versus Gardner-Webb.

Maryland notched its second shutout in four games by blanking the Bulldogs. Dooley (2-5) allowed just four hits over five innings before handing the ball over to Hickey. Dooley's first strikeout of the game during the second inning marked the 200th of her career.

Junior Nadine Blackie, who batted .538 (7-for-13) during the four tournament games, drove in the contest's lone run in the third inning when her double to left center scored freshman Kathy McLaughlin, who led off the inning with a single.

Maryland's performance during its second game Sunday proved worthy of a championship, as the home team establish season-best totals for runs and hits (15) during a six-inning affair with Dartmouth. Hickey (4-for-4) and freshman Michelle Takeda (3-for-3) both were perfect at the plate, with Takeda launching her second home run in as many days, a two-run shot in the third inning.

Takeda, who leads the team with three homers, tallied three RBIs against the Big Green, while Hickey, Blackie and senior Breanna Shaw added two apiece. Shaw, McLaughlin and sophomore Jennifer Anderson each contributed a pair of hits.

Maryland broke the game against Dartmouth wide open with five runs during their half of the third, accounting for the team's highest-scoring inning of the season.

In addition to Takeda's home run, Blackie tripled to score McLaughlin and sophomore Niki Lau. Hickey subsequently drove in Blackie with an RBI single.

Takeda's RBI single and senior Devon Williams' sacrifice bunt platted two more runs during the fifth inning. Maryland rounded out its scoring during the sixth inning, when Hickey drove in McLaughlin with a single and Shaw belted a two-run double to deep left center.

That run support was more than enough for Knight (1-3), who allowed just one base hit and turned in one of her best pitching performances of the season. During their two tournament games versus Dartmouth, the Terps surrendered only one hit in 13 innings.

Along with Blackie, Takeda proved the Terps' top offensive threat during the Maryland Round Robin. The freshman from Placentia, Calif., finished the tournament with six RBIs, five hits and two home runs, both of which came against Dartmouth.

The Terrapins return to action Wednesday when the play host to local rival Towson in their non-tournament home opener. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Robert. E. Taylor Stadium.

Gardner-Webb (5-8)    000 000 0 -  0  4  1
Maryland (8-10)       001 000 X -  1  5  0

LOB - GWU 5; Maryland 7. 2B - Melody Harrell; Nadine Blackie. HBP - Lindsea Hutchinson; Vangie Galindo. SH - Adrienne Smith. SB - Nadine Blackie; Vangie Galindo. W - Sarah Dooley (2-5). L - Christine Murray (2-4). S - Kerry Hickey (1).

Dartmouth  (1-3)       000 020 -   2  1  2
Maryland   (9-10)      005 023 -  10 15  2

LOB - Dartmouth 7; Maryland 6. 2B - Kerry Hickey; Breanna Shaw. 3B - Nadine Blackie. HR - Michelle Takeda. HBP - Nadine Blackie. SH - Breanna Shaw; Devon Williams. SF - Molly Khalil. SB - Niki Lau, 2; Kathy McLaughlin, 2; Vangie Galindo. W - Kendra Knight (1-3). L - Devin Lindsay (1-3).

Sunday's Complete Maryland Round Robin Results:
Game 1: Dartmouth 5, Manhattan 4 (8 innings)
Game 2: Maryland 1, Gardner-Webb 0
Consolation Game: Gardner-Webb 8, Manhattan 0 (5 innings)
Championship Game: Maryland 10, Dartmouth 2 (6 innings)