COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Forty games into its 2009 campaign, the University of Maryland softball team commences its second-longest homestand of the season by playing host to local foe George Washington in a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. in Robert E. Taylor Stadium.

The Terrapins, who will play their next seven games at home, where they have won 11 of 19 contests, have beaten their other two local opponents this season in Howard and Towson. They welcome the Colonials to Taylor Stadium holding a four-game win streak in the series. Wednesday's contests are free to the public and parking will be available in Lots 4B and 9B starting at 4 p.m.

Maryland (20-20, 5-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) has received offensive production from various sources this season, but especially from junior Nadine Blackie and senior Breanna Shaw, who rank 10th and 11th in the ACC in batting, respectively. Blackie is hitting .340 with six home runs and leads the team in walks (15), stolen bases (10) and on-base percentage (.443). Shaw is producing at the plate at a .339 clip with a team-best eight doubles thus far in 2009.

A pair of Terps has led the team on the mound this season as well. Following a pair of complete game performances versus Florida State last weekend, Kerry Hickey lowered her ERA to 2.22, which ranks eighth in the ACC. The sophomore from Huntingtown, Md., leads the conference in saves (three), relief appearances (17) and games finished pitching (16). Fellow right-hander Sarah Dooley, a senior, has collected a team-high 10 victories from the pitchers' circle.

With 12 games played thus far against opponents ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 national poll, the Terps have encountered one of the more difficult schedules in the nation this season. No other team in the ACC has played more than 10 contests versus squads ranked in that poll.

Last Time Out
Despite a pair of one-run complete game pitching performances by Kerry Hickey and four hits from fellow sophomore Niki Lau, the Terps dropped a three-game ACC series with No. 21 Florida State last weekend in Tallahassee, Fla.

Playing its 10th, 11th and 12th games of the season against an opponent ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 national poll, Maryland nearly played Florida State even during the first and third games of the series - both 1-0 decisions. The Seminoles earned an 8-0 victory during the middle game of the conference showdown.

During Saturday's first contest, Hickey pitched five scoreless innings before surrendering the game's lone run in the sixth inning. The Terps' right-hander scattered five hits and recorded five strikeouts while facing 26 batters. 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.

Senior Sarah Dooley (10-7) and freshman Kendra Knight took turns toeing the rubber for Maryland during Saturday's nightcap. Dooley 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.

Hickey pitched her second complete game in as many days and Lau had another multi-hit performance during Sunday's series finale. The Terrapins outhit the Seminoles 5-4 and did not commit an error in the field for the 19th time this season to boost their team fielding percentage to .968. That performance, however, did not prove enough Sunday against a Florida State squad equipped with a pair of ace pitchers.

Hickey (9-7) went the distance on the mound Sunday for the Terps, allowing the lone run on four hits in six innings to lower her ERA to 2.22. The hard-luck pitcher took the loss despite her efficient performance, which saw her face just 22 batters and record five strikeouts.

Batting second in the Terps' lineup, Lau went 2-for-3 for her 11th multi-hit game of the season Sunday. The Centennial, Colo., native laced a single down the left field line in her first at bat and added an infield hit in the sixth inning, increasing her series hit total to four.

Scouting the Competition
• George Washington (12-25, 3-9 Atlantic-10) is coming off a split with conference opponent Dayton last weekend. A highlight of the Colonials' season came in March, when they won three of four games during the Colonial Classic, including a 2-1 upset of Pittsburgh.
• The Terps and Colonials have played seven common opponents thus far this season - California, Fordham, Long Island, Mount St. Mary's, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia. In addition to its victory over the Panthers, George Washington also claimed wins over Long Island (1-0 in extra innings) and Mount St. Mary's (5-4).
• Sophomore Katie Terrazas and freshman Krissy Mackiewicz have been the Colonials top hitters thus far in 2009. Terrazas leads the team in batting (.269), hits (29), RBIs (15), runs (13) and doubles (six). Mackiewicz has 27 hits and a team-best eight stolen bases.
• Junior Amanda Gabriel (7-13, 3.05 ERA) has struck out 144 batters in 130.1 innings pitched this season. Fifteen of her 18 starts have resulted in complete game performances. Three other players (freshmen Kara Clauss and Heidi Penna and senior Carrie Higdon) also have taken the mound for George Washington this season.

Series History
Maryland has dominated its all-time series with George Washington, winning seven of the first eight meetings, including the last four matchups. The Colonials' lone victory was a 6-4 extra-inning decision in 2006. During its seven victories, Maryland has averaged 7.5 runs per game and limited George Washington to two total runs.

ACC Rankings
The Terps currently stand first in the ACC in saves (six), second in fewest hits allowed (204), tied for second in triples (nine), tied for second in sacrifice bunts (35), third in batters struck out (274), third in opponent's batting average (.208), fourth in fielding percentage (.968) and fourth in hits (277). Additionally, several Maryland softball players rank among the best in the ACC in their respective top statistical categories.

Junior Nadine Blackie:
• Ranks tied for seventh in the ACC in triples (two), ninth in slugging percentage (.588), 10th in batting (.340), 11th in on-base percentage (.443), tied for 12th in home runs (six) and tied for 13th in stolen bases (10).
Senior Sarah Dooley:
• Ranks tied for second in the ACC in saves (two), seventh in hits allowed (80), ninth in opponents' batting average (.230), tied for ninth in wins (10) and tied for 11th in games started (15).
Sophomore Kerry Hickey:
• Ranks first in the ACC in saves (three), first in relief appearances (17), first in games finished pitching (16), tied for third in appearances (30), sixth in strikeouts (122), seventh in opponent's batting average (.198), eighth in ERA (2.22), tied for ninth in innings pitched (116.2) and tied for 11th in wins (nine). Offensively, Hickey stands fourth in at bats (133), tied for ninth in hits (40) and tied for 14th in doubles (six).
Freshman Kendra Knight:
• Ranks first in the ACC in fewest hits allowed (41), sixth in opponents' batting average (.191), tied for ninth in appearances (24) and 11th in strikeouts (85).
Freshman Kathy McLaughlin:
• Ranks fourth in the ACC in triples (four).
Senior Breanna Shaw:
• Ranks tied for fifth in the ACC in doubles (eight) and 11th in batting (.339).
Junior Alex Schultz
• Ranks third in the ACC hits by pitch (eight).
Freshman Michelle Takeda:
• Ranks tied for 12th in the ACC in home runs (six).
Senior Devon Williams:
• Ranks second in the ACC in sacrifice bunts (nine).

Did You Know
The Terrapins have been nearly unbeatable this season when they have been able to put three or more runs on the board. Maryland stands 19-1 when it scores at least three runs and 16-0 when it tallies four or more runs. The team has not lost in 2009 when leading after four innings (17-0). Maryland also has outhit its opponents in 65 percent of its game this season (26 of 40).

Up Next
Following its doubleheader with George Washington, Maryland returns to conference action this weekend by playing host to Boston College in a three-game series in Taylor Stadium. The Terrapins and Eagles will play at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and conclude their series at 1 p.m. Sunday.