April 11, 2009

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sophomore Kerry Hickey had yet another strong performance on the mound, but the University of Maryland softball team came up on the short end of a pitchers' duel Saturday evening, falling to No. 21 Florida, 1-0, at JoAnne Graf Field. The Terrapins also dropped an 8-0 decision in the nightcap of the Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader.

Playing its 10th and 11th games of the season against an opponent ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 national poll, Maryland (20-19, 5-6 ACC) held Florida State's lineup in check throughout Saturday's first game. Both teams placed nothing but zeros on the scoreboard until a solo home run by Seminoles senior Kaleigh Rafter to lead off the bottom of the sixth provided the game's lone run.

Making her 29th appearance on the mound this season, Hickey pitched five scoreless innings before surrendering the single run in the sixth inning. The right-hander from Huntingtown, Md., scattered five hits and recorded five strikeouts while facing 26 batters. Despite taking the loss, Hickey (9-6) lowered her team-leading ERA to 2.28.

Sophomore Niki Lau led the way offensively for the Terps, reaching base in all three of her at bats via a pair of hits and a walk. Lau tallied an infield single during the third inning and added a basehit to left field during the seventh for her 10th multi-hit game of 2009.

One game after a 6-for-6 performance with three home runs during a doubleheader against Hofstra, junior Nadine Blackie notched a single in her second at bat Saturday, and freshman Michelle Takeda also tallied a hit during the first game, when she lashed the ball down the left field line during the second inning.

Defensively, the Terps played error-free softball for the 17th time this season during the first game of the doubleheader.

During Saturday's second contest, senior Sarah Dooley and freshman Kendra Knight took turns toeing the rubber for Maryland. Dooley (10-7) took the loss after pitching the first 3.2 innings. Knight struck out four over two innings of work and now has 85 punch outs on the season.

Freshman Vangie Galindo legged out an infield hit during the fifth inning and now has hit safely in six of her last eight games. Blackie contributed her team-leading 10th stolen base of the season after drawing a walk in the fourth inning.

Florida State pitchers Sarah Hamilton (12-5) and Terese Gobber (19-8) both picked up a victory Saturday after going the distance in their respective starts.

The Terrapins and Seminoles conclude their three-game series at 1 p.m. Sunday at JoAnne Graf Field in Tallahassee, Fla. The series finale will be streamed live over the Internet by ACC Select.

Game 1

Maryland      000 000 0 - 0  4  0
Florida State 000 001 X - 1  5  0

LOB - Maryland 7; Florida State 7. HR - Kaleigh Rafter. HBP - Alex Schultz. SH - Kerry Hickey; Monica Montez. SB - Carly Wynn. CS - Alex Schultz. W - Sarah Hamilton (12-5). L - Kerry Hickey (9-6).

Game 2

Maryland      000 000 - 0  1  2
Florida State 200 402 - 8  9  2

LOB - Maryland 6; Florida State 7. HBP - Brittany Joseph. SB - Nadine Blackie; Carly Wynn, 2; Monica Montez. W - Terese Gober (19-8). L - Sarah Dooley (10-7).