April 5, 2009

Box Score

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Fueled by a seven-run sixth inning, the University of Maryland softball team overcame a two-run deficit to defeat host Virginia, 8-4, Sunday afternoon and secure the program's first Atlantic Coast Conference series sweep in more than two years.

Trailing 3-1 after five innings, the Terrapins sent 13 batters to the plate during their half of the sixth, collecting seven hits, two walks and a hit-batsman to produce their most runs in a single inning since scoring eight in the third frame against George Washington on April 23, 2008. Junior Lydia Fowler provided the biggest hit of the inning, when her bases-loaded double to left center - the first two-base hit of her Maryland career - cleared the bases and gave the Terps a 4-3 lead.

Seniors Breanna Shaw and Devon Williams and sophomore Kerry Hickey also contributed RBI singles during the seven-run outburst, and sophomore Niki Lau's opportunistic base-running after a bunt single resulted in another run. Both Hickey (two singles) and Williams (walk and single) reached base twice during the big inning.

With the victory, Maryland (19-16, 5-4 ACC) earned its first conference series sweep since its last visit to Virginia two seasons ago, when the Terps took three games from the Cavaliers on March 24-25, 2007. Extending its win streak to five games and pushing its conference record above .500, Maryland also moved into a tie for third place in the ACC standings.

"Anytime you produce an inning like that, you gain momentum and batters tend to feed off each other and string together quality at bats," head coach Laura Watten said. "I'm really proud of our team's effort this weekend, but we have a lot more challenging games yet to come."

Hickey relived freshman Kendra Knight on the mound and pitched the final 4.2 innings for her second victory in as many days. The right-hander from Huntingtown, Md., allowed just one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts. Hickey (9-4) lowered her team-leading ERA to 2.18 and tied senior Sarah Dooley for the team lead in victories.

Earlier in the contest, junior Alex Schultz knotted the score at 1-1 when she led off the second inning by belting a home run to left field. The blast marked her first of the season and the sixth of her career, tying Hickey and freshman Michelle Takeda for the most home runs among active players. Schultz became the seventh Maryland player to go deep this season.

In addition to Hickey, Fowler and Schultz both had a pair of hits Sunday. Lau, Schultz, Shaw and freshman Vangie Galindo each notched four hits during the series, and Shaw added four RBIs.

Senior Karla Wilburn took the loss for Virginia (23-12, 2-7 ACC) after allowing all eight runs on 11 hits in six innings of work. Freshman Giannina Cipollo and junior Nicole Koren hit solo home runs for the Cavaliers.

Maryland returns to action by playing host to a midweek doubleheader with Hofstra. The Terrapins take on the Pride at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday in Robert E. Taylor Stadium. Both games are free to the public and parking will be available in Lots 4B and 9B starting at 4 p.m.

Maryland    010 007 0 - 8 11  4
Virginia    102 001 0 - 4  5  1

LOB - Maryland 9; Virginia 7. 2B - Lydia Fowler. HR - Alex Schultz; Giannina Cipollo; Nicole Koren. HBP - Alex Schultz; Carly Winger. SH - Kathy McLaughlin; Lydia Fowler; Lauren McCaskey; Alison Pittman. SB - Vangie Galindo; Niki Lau; Carly Winger; Lauren McCaskey; Clara Kendall; Abby Snyder; Casey Steffan. W - Kerry Hickey (9-4). L - Karla Wilburn (17-6).