COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland softball team plays host to a three-game series with Boston College this weekend looking to keep pace and perhaps gain ground in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. The Terrapins entertain the Eagles in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. in Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Sunday's series finale, also slated for 1 p.m., will be streamed live over the Internet by ACC Select.

Maryland (20-20, 5-7 ACC) enters Saturday's action two games behind Virginia Tech, which plays a three-game series this weekend at conference leader North Carolina, for fourth place in the ACC standings. The Terps have won six of their last 10 contests, including a five-game conference win streak over NC State and Virginia from March 28 to April 5.

The Terps have proven adept all season at protecting leads in the late innings. The team stands 17-0 this season when leading after four innings and paces the ACC with six saves. Pitchers Kerry Hickey (3), Sarah Dooley (2) and Kendra Knight (1) each have contributed to that save total, which is already the second-most by the team in a season in the last 10 years. Hickey leads the ACC and is tied for 10th in the nation in saves.

Offensively, Maryland has collected 73 more hits than its opposition and outhit its opponents in 65 percent of its games this season (26 of 40). Terrapin batters have compiled 62 multi-hit games in 2009. Hickey (40), fellow senior Breanna Shaw (39), junior Nadine Blackie (33) and sophomore Niki Lau (32) each have tallied more than 30 hits thus far.

The Terps have enjoyed five days off from competition after playing 40 games during the previous 65 days. Their home doubleheader with George Washington slated for Wednesday was rained out, and that pair of games has been rescheduled for April 28.

Boston College (15-24, 1-8 ACC) enters the weekend series carrying some momentum. The Eagles beat visiting Harvard, 7-6, Thursday afternoon on the power of a walk-off home run from sophomore Alison Kooistra in the seventh inning.

Each game of this weekend's series with Boston College is free to the public, and parking will be available in Lots 4B and 9B.

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
• Boston College (14-25, 1-8 ACC) has lost four of five games since winning five of seven contests to start the month of April. The Eagles earned their lone conference victory on April 4, when they upset then-No. 24 Georgia Tech in the first game of a home doubleheader.
• The Eagles snapped a four-game losing skid by defeating visiting Harvard, 7-6, Thursday afternoon on the power of a walk-off solo home run from sophomore Alison Kooistra in the seventh inning.
• Sophomore Irene Delagrammaticas leads Boston College in batting (.292), hits (38) and stolen bases (nine). Amy Tunstall is batting .289 with a team-best 22 RBIs, while fellow junior Dani Weir paces the squad with seven home runs. Freshman Brittany Wilkins leads the team in walks (28) and on-base percentage (.461).
• Like Maryland, Boston College has used three pitchers extensively this season - junior Taylor Peyton (8-10, 3.30 ERA), sophomore Allison Gage (6-9, 3.54 ERA) and freshman Morgan Kidd (1-5, 4.07 ERA). Peyton and Gage both have seven complete games this season, while Kidd has two saves.

Series History
The Eagles hold an 8-5 advantage in the all-time series, but Maryland won two of three games during its last series with Boston College in Taylor Stadium in 2007. The Terps and Eagles have split their previous six meetings, and five of the last seven games have been decided by three runs or less. During last season's contests against Boston College, Alex Schultz had three hits and Kerry Hickey blasted a home run.

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
Despite being in just her second season at Maryland, Sarah Dooley ranks among the top 10 in team history in three pitching categories. Dooley stands sixth all-time in pitching appearances (68), seventh in strikeouts (246) and tied for eighth in shutouts (eight).

Up Next
Following its three-game series with Boston College, Maryland will stay at home to face Penn State in a doubleheader next week. The Terrapins and the Nittany Lions will take the field at Taylor Stadium Wednesday starting at 5 p.m.