Softball Opens ACC Road Slate at Virginia
4/2/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Maryland softball team commences the road portion of its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule when it takes on rival Virginia in a three-game series this weekend in the Cavaliers' The Park. The Terrapins and Cavaliers will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and finish the series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Maryland, which is coming off a 2-1 series victory over NC State last weekend, won last season's series with Virginia by the same margin, as two of those games were decided by a combined three runs. The Terps have been no stranger to close games yet again this season. Each of the team's last four conference contests have been decided by exactly one run, and it has played 12 one-run games overall thus far in 2009.
The Terps have featured a blend of experience and youth through their first 32 games this season. Sarah Dooley leads the team with eight victories after pitching her way to two more against the Wolfpack, and fellow senior Breanna Shaw ranks second in batting (.330) and tied for second in RBIs (11).
On the flipside, several younger players have been equally productive for the Terps. Sophomore Kerry Hickey has been impressive as a two-way player, earning seven wins on the mound and batting .321 with 35 hits and six doubles at the plate. Freshman Kathy McLaughlin paces the team in batting (.353), and fellow first-year player Vangie Galindo, who has provided a spark near the top of the batting order, is riding a six-game hit streak.
"We have received strong contributions from a number of players this season, and that trend needs to continue through the remainder of conference play," head coach Laura Watten said. "Virginia is another quality ACC squad, and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing a conference road series."
Maryland (16-16, 2-4 ACC) has been at its best this season when it strikes first and plates runners during the early innings. The team stands 11-0 when it scores first and 15-0 when holding a lead following four innings.
Last Time Out
Maryland took two-of-three games from NC State last weekend in a home series in which every contest was decided by a single run. The Terps fell to the Wolfpack 1-0 in the first game but rebounded to win 4-3 in Saturday's nightcap and 7-6 in Sunday's finale.
During last Saturday's first game, sophomore Kerry Hickey and Wolfpack junior Lindsay Campana engaged in a pitchers' duel, with both teams tallying just three hits and NC State accounting for the game's lone run on a solo home run.
Senior Sarah Dooley pitched 5.1 strong innings in relief during last Saturday's rematch, allowing just two earned runs to earn the victory. Hickey secured the save after taking the mound with runners on second and third during the seventh inning and striking out the game's final batter. Senior Devon Williams, sophomore Jennifer Anderson and freshman Kathy McLaughlin each contributed RBI singles.
Junior Alex Schultz hit a walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning to score pinch runner Lauren Ghent and send Maryland to a dramatic victory over NC State last Sunday. The Terps stormed back from a 6-2 deficit with a pair of runs in both the fifth and sixth frames to force extra innings. Junior Lydia Fowler led off the bottom of the eighth by reaching on an error and Williams followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Ghent to second base, setting up Schultz's big hit to cap Maryland's first extra-inning game of the season.
That victory extended the team's win streak in extra-inning contests to six games dating back nearly two years. Freshman Vangie Galindo contributed a career-high three hits along with two stolen bases, and McLaughlin added two hits, including her team-best fourth triple of the season. Senior Breanna Shaw and freshman Michelle Takeda tallied two RBIs apiece
Scouting the Competition
• Virginia (23-9, 2-4 ACC) is riding a four-game win streak after sweeping doubleheaders with George Mason and Liberty this past week. The Cavaliers stand 11-2 at home in 2009. They boast one of the most potent offenses in the ACC, entering the week ranked first in the conference in triples (10), second in batting (.298), second in home runs (28) and third in runs (173).
• Senior Sarah Tacke ranks among the conference leaders in batting (.417) and also has a team-high 35 hits, nine home runs and 36 RBIs. Junior Nicole Koren also has been extremely productive for the Cavaliers, batting .385 with eight homers and 29 RBIs. Three different Virginia players - senior Carly Winger, sophomore Alison Pittman and freshman Giannina Cipolloni - have stolen at least 11 bases this season.
• Senior Karla Wilburn serves as the ace of Virginia's pitching staff, sporting a record of 17-4 with a 1.85 ERA in 128.1 innings pitched. Wilburn has 18 complete games and four shutouts this season. Freshman Stephanie Coates (5-3, 2.18 ERA) also has pitched well this season for the Cavaliers.
Series History
The all-time series between Maryland and Virginia dates back to the Terps' first season in 1995, with the Cavaliers leading 27-14. However, Maryland has won six of the last seven matchups, including taking two-of-three contests last season.
ACC Rankings
The Terps currently stand second in the ACC in fielding percentage (.971), third in opponent's batting average (.209), third in batters struck out (228), fourth in hits (223) and fifth in batting (.270). 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), ninth in on-base percentage (.444), tied for 10th in walks (14), tied for 12th in stolen bases (eight) and tied for 15th in batting (.324).
Senior Sarah Dooley:
• Ranks tied for first in the ACC in saves (two), tied for sixth in appearances (20), tied for sixth in hits allowed (65), tied for eighth in wins (eight) and tied for 11th in games started (12).
Sophomore Kerry Hickey:
• Ranks first in the ACC in games finished pitching (13), tied for first in relief appearances (15), tied for third in appearances (24), sixth in strikeouts (92), seventh in opponent's batting average (.201), ninth in ERA (2.20) and 10th in innings pitched (89.0) and tied for 11th in wins (seven). Offensively, Hickey is tied for fourth in at bats (109), tied for fourth in doubles (six) and tied for 10th in hits (35).
Freshman Kendra Knight:
• Ranks first in the ACC in fewest hits allowed (35), sixth in opponents' batting average (.190) and 11th in strikeouts (73).
Freshman Kathy McLaughlin:
• Ranks tied for second in the ACC in triples (four).
Senior Breanna Shaw:
• Ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in doubles (six) and 14th in batting (.330).
Junior Alex Schultz
• Ranks sixth in the ACC hits by pitch (five).
Freshman Michelle Takeda:
• Ranks tied for seventh in the ACC in home runs (six).
Senior Devon Williams:
• Ranks tied for first in the ACC in sacrifice bunts (seven).
Did You Know
Maryland set a team record last season with 17 triples, and has picked up where it left off in 2009, ranking tied for second in the ACC (eight triples) and among the top-50 in the nation (.25 triples per game). Freshman Kathy McLaughlin ranks eighth in the nation in three-base hits (.18 triples per game).
Up Next
Following its three-game series at Virginia, Maryland returns home to play host to a doubleheader with Hofstra Wednesday starting at 5 p.m. in Robert E. Taylor Stadium.
