Softball Takes On Virginia Tech in Pivotal ACC Series
4/24/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2009
| ACC Select
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The University of Maryland softball team commences a stretch of 10 games during the next nine days to conclude the regular season when it takes on Virginia Tech in an important three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series this weekend in Tech Softball Park. The Terrapins face the Hokies in a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon and in a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Maryland (23-22, 7-8 ACC) and Virginia Tech (22-23, 7-8 ACC) enter the weekend tied for fourth place in the conference standings and boasting nearly identical overall records. The Terps and Hokies play this weekend in a potential preview of an ACC Championships matchup, as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds will square off in the opening round of the conference tournament May 8.
The Terps are coming off a split with Big Ten foe Penn State during a home doubleheader Thursday evening that saw the team's trend of recent stellar pitching performances continue. Senior Sarah Dooley tossed a five-hit shutout for her 12th victory in the nightcap after sophomore Kerry Hickey turned in a complete game during Thursday's first contest. Maryland now has limited its opposition to three or fewer runs in 13 of its last 16 games, including six in a row.
Entering its weekend showdown with Virginia Tech, Maryland already has claimed three ACC series victories this season. The Terps took two of three games from both NC State and Boston College during a pair of home series (March 28-29 and April 18-19) and swept Virginia on the road (April 4-5).
Virginia Tech, the reigning ACC champions which advanced to the 2008 Women's College World Series, carries a three-game win streak into the weekend. The Hokies rank third in the ACC this season in both batting (.286) and stolen bases (74).
Sunday's rubber match between Maryland and Virginia Tech will be streamed live over the Internet by ACC Select.
Following its series with the Hokies, the Terps have little time to rest before returning to the diamond for a seven-game homestand to close the regular season. Maryland plays host to a makeup doubleheader with George Washington Tuesday before facing Delaware State in a pair of home games Wednesday. The Terps conclude the 2009 regular season by taking on ACC opponent Georgia Tech at home next weekend.
Last Time Out
Pitcher Sarah Dooley tossed a five-hit shutout to propel Maryland to a 2-0 victory over Penn State during the second game of a doubleheader Thursday in Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Penn State prevailed, 3-2, in the first game, despite Kerry Hickey's fourth complete game in her last five starts in the circle.
Sophomore Niki Lau was a perfect 3-for-3 with two sacrifice hits and a walk during Thursday's action. Junior Nadine Blackie added three hits and a pair of RBIs for Maryland (23-22, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference), which beat a Big Ten Conference opponent for the first time since upending Michigan in the 2008 season opener.
Making her 17th start of the season, Dooley (12-8) induced 11 ground ball outs and did not allow a Nittany Lion baserunner past first base following the second inning. By blanking Penn State (17-21, 5-7 Big Ten), Dooley earned her ninth career shutout, tying former pitchers Meredith Nelles and Crystal Crews for sixth all-time at Maryland.
The Terps broke a scoreless tie during the fifth inning of Thursday's nightcap by capitalizing on a pair of errors committed by Penn State. Senior Devon Williams and freshman Kathy McLaughlin both reached base via errors, and freshman Vangie Galindo connected on a 3-2 pitch to drive in Williams with a single up the middle.
Maryland tacked on an insurance run during the ensuing inning thanks to a spectacular play by junior Alex Schultz, who led off with a bunt single. Sophomore Jennifer Anderson followed by drilling a double to left field, and Schultz rounded third base attempting to score on the play. Although the relay throw beat her to the plate, Schultz catapulted over Penn State catcher Danee Collett to avoid the tag, touching home plate with her left hand.
During Thursday's first contest, Hickey (10-8) went the distance on the mound, allowing three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. The sophomore from Huntingtown, Md., also extended her hit streak to five games when she collected her seventh double of the season during the seventh inning.
After Penn State took a 3-0 lead in its half of the sixth inning, the Terps went to work during their ensuing at bat. Lau lined a one-out single to left center, and Galindo tallied a base hit of her own two batters later. With two on and two out, Blackie doubled to left field to score two and pull Maryland to within 3-2.
Scouting the Competition
• Virginia Tech is coming off a pair of convincing wins over North Carolina A&T and has a three-game win streak. The Hokies entered the week ranked third in the ACC in both batting (.286) and stolen bases (74).
• The reigning ACC champions and 2008 Women's College World Series participants, the Hokies have earned a victory over two of the conference's top three teams this season. Virginia Tech beat Georgia Tech, 3-2, on March 22 and claimed a 2-1 victory at Florida State on April 4.
• Former Virginia Tech standout pitcher Angela Tincher, who garnered numerous accolades during her impressive career, currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Hokies.
• Jenna Rhodes leads the conference in batting (.474), hits (72) and stolen bases (34). Fellow senior Charisse Mariconda is batting at a .371 clip with a team-best 29 RBIs and 18 steals. Senior Jessica Everhart, who is hitting .333, is tied for the team lead with four home runs.
• Sophomore Kenzie Roark has anchored the Hokies' pitching staff, compiling a17-14 record with 19 complete games, five shutouts and an ERA of 2.81. Freshman Abbie Rexrode (4-7, 4.68 ERA) also has seen significant action in the circle for Virginia Tech this season.
Series History
Maryland holds a slim lead in its all-time series with Virginia Tech, emerging victorious in 10 of the 18 matchups. However, the Hokies have won six of the last eight contests between the schools, including a 7-4 victory during the 2008 ACC Championships en route to claiming the title. Eight of the last 12 matchups between the Terps and Hokies have been decided by three runs or less.
ACC Rankings
The Terps currently stand first in the ACC in saves (seven), tied for first in sacrifice bunts (46), second in fewest hits allowed (235), second in triples (10), third in batters struck out (307), third in opponent's batting average (.207), fourth in fielding percentage (.967) and fourth in hits (316). 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), 10th in slugging percentage (.535), tied for 12th in home runs (six), tied for 13th in stolen bases (10) and 14th in on-base percentage (.418).
Senior Sarah Dooley:
• Ranks tied for second in the ACC in saves (two), seventh in hits allowed (92), ninth in opponents' batting average (.220), ninth in wins (12) and tied for 12th in games started (17).
Sophomore Kerry Hickey:
• Ranks first in the ACC in saves (three), first in relief appearances (17), first in games finished pitching (17), tied for third in appearances (33), fifth in strikeouts (143), seventh in opponent's batting average (.204), eighth in ERA (2.19), tied for ninth in innings pitched (137.2) and tied for 10th in wins (10). Offensively, Hickey stands fourth in at bats (150) and tied for 11th in hits (44).
Freshman Kendra Knight:
• Ranks first in the ACC in fewest hits allowed (42), sixth in opponents' batting average (.193), 11th in strikeouts (86) and tied for 11th in appearances (25).
Freshman Kathy McLaughlin:
• Ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in triples (four).
Senior Breanna Shaw:
• Ranks sixth in the ACC in doubles (nine) and 14th in batting (.331).
Junior Alex Schultz
• Ranks tied for third in the ACC in hits by pitch (eight) and tied for seventh in triples (two).
Freshman Michelle Takeda:
• Ranks tied for 12th in the ACC in home runs (six).
Senior Devon Williams:
• Ranks tied for third in the ACC in sacrifice bunts (10) and tied for seventh in triples (two).
Did You Know
Playing primarily third base, senior Devon Williams already has 99 assists in the field this season. With 15 regular season games remaining, she is on pace to finish with more fielding assists than any Maryland player in the last five seasons.
Up Next
Following its three-game series at Virginia Tech, the Terrapins return home for a pair of nonconference doubleheaders next week in Taylor Stadium. Maryland faces George Washington on Tuesday and Delaware State on Wednesday. Both doubleheaders start at 5 p.m. and are free to the public.
