RALEIGH, N.C. - The University of Maryland softball team opens the 2009 ACC Championship by taking on Virginia Tech at 7:30 p.m. Friday in a first-round matchup in NC State's Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium.

Maryland (29-25, 9-11 ACC) concluded the regular season by winning nine of its last 14 games to earn the No. 4 seed in the annual tournament - its highest seeding under the current eight-team format. Virginia Tech (27-27, 8-10 ACC), the two-time defending conference champion, secured the No. 5 seed. The Terrapins and Hokies are meeting in the tournament's first round for the second consecutive season.

The 18th annual conference tournament features a single-elimination format comprising seven total games in a three-day span. ACC Select will provide free streaming video for every game during the first two days of the tournament, and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will broadcast Sunday's championship game. For ticket prices and other tournament information, please visit Championship Central.

The Terps took two-of-three games from the Hokies during the regular season in a series played in Blacksburg, Va., from April 25-26. Maryland overcame a four-run deficit during its final two at bats to defeat Virginia Tech, 5-4, during the series opener before dropping a 6-5 decision in game two. The Terps claimed a 4-1 victory during the rubber match, as pitchers Kerry Hickey and Sarah Dooley combined to hold the Hokies' batters in check. Hickey and Dooley both earned victories and freshman Kathy McLaughlin had four hits during the series.

Maryland concluded the regular season with its highest conference victory total in 10 years, having claimed ACC series victories against Boston College, NC State and Virginia, in addition to Virginia Tech. During the nonconference portion of its schedule, Maryland knocked off then-No. 17 Nevada on a walk-off home run by sophomore Jennifer Anderson. The Terps currently are vying for their fourth consecutive 30-win season under head coach Laura Watten.

Dooley (16-10, 2.79 ERA) and Hickey (12-9, 2.43 ERA) have served as a formidable tandem in the pitchers' circle this season for the Terps. Dooley, a senior, has pitched 10 complete games and four shutouts, winning 15 of her last 20 decisions. Hickey, a sophomore, has recorded 169 strikeouts in 158.2 innings of work and earned a conference-best four saves.

Offensively, senior Breanna Shaw (.326), junior Nadine Blackie (.304) and freshman Vangie Galindo (.300) each boast batting averages of .300 or better, helping Maryland finish the regular season fourth in the ACC in team batting. Shaw leads the team with 12 extra-base hits, and Blackie has accumulated a team-high 67 total bases. Freshman Michelle Takeda leads the squad with seven home runs and 24 RBIs, and three Terps (Blackie, Galindo and McLaughlin) have compiled double-digit stolen base totals.

Last Time Out
Senior Devon Williams drove in a pair of runs and junior Alex Schultz tallied two hits, but the Maryland softball team fell to No. 16/23 Georgia Tech, 9-2 and 8-0, during an ACC doubleheader last Saturday in Taylor Stadium. Sunday's regular season finale with the Yellow Jackets was rained out.

Playing against one of the nation's hottest teams, the Terrapins collected at least one hit in every inning of Saturday's first game and scored a pair of runs during the bottom of the sixth. Williams, who now has played 197 career games at Maryland, notched a two-out, two-run single when she drove the ball through the right side of the infield. The hit scored Schultz, who reached base on a fielder's choice, and sophomore Marisha Branson, who pinch ran following Kerry Hickey's infield single.

Pitcher Sarah Dooley relieved Hickey and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, overcoming a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. The veteran right-hander worked two more scoreless frames to start game two, extending her streak of innings pitched without allowing an earned run to 28.2 before the Yellow Jackets found the scoreboard during their half of the third.

Hickey (12-9) took the loss for Maryland during Saturday's first game, despite striking out six in 5.1 innings of work. The right-hander returned to the circle to pitch two scoreless innings in relief during the second game, a five-inning affair. Dooley (16-10) struck out five during the first three innings of game two and lost for the first time in four decisions.

Breanna Shaw returned to action after missing eight games due to injury. The Terps' infielder singled and drew a walk during Saturday's first game. Sophomore Niki Lau contributed another outstanding play in the outfield during the second contest. Georgia Tech sophomore Kristen Adkins lifted a fly ball to deep center field, but Lau raced backwards to snare it several steps onto the warning track.

Scouting the Competition
• Virginia Tech (27-27, 8-10 ACC) represents one of the top offensive teams in the ACC The Hokies lead the conference in stolen bases (103) and rank second in several other offensive categories, including batting (.290), hits (402) and sacrifice bunts (50). The team also stands seventh in the ACC in pitching (3.33 ERA).
• The Hokies closed the regular season by winning four of their last six games, all of which were nonconference matchups. The team also claimed two marquee conference victories, winning 3-2 at home against Georgia Tech on March 22 and 2-0 at then-No. 21 Florida State on April 5.
• The two-time defending ACC champions, Virginia Tech advanced to the 2008 NCAA College World Series. The Hokies beat the Terps, 7-4, during the first round of the 2008 ACC Championship.
• Senior Jenna Rhodes leads the ACC in batting (.478), hits (89) and stolen bases (49). She also has scored 36 runs and accumulated 93 total bases. Fellow seniors Charisse Mariconda and Jessica Everhart also have compiled big numbers at the plate this season. Mariconda is batting .379 with a team-best 38 RBIs,16 extra-base hits and 25 stolen bases. Everhart is hitting at a .349 clip and is tied for the team lead with five home runs.
• Sophomore Kenzie Roark serves as the Hokies' ace pitcher and boasts a record of 21-17 with a 2.67 ERA. Having made 48 appearances this season, she has pitching 25 complete games and seven shutouts. Freshman Abbie Rexrode is 5-8 with an ERA of 4.48.

Series History
Maryland holds a 12-9 advantage in its all-time series with Virginia Tech, which dates back to 1997. The teams have a tendency of playing close games, as 11 of their last 15 matchups have been decided by three runs or less, including all three games this season.

Tournament History
The Terps have an all-time record of 17-27 during the ACC Championship, having won at least two tournament games on six occasions (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005). The team enjoyed its best showing during the 1997 ACC Championship, winning three games en route to claiming a share of the ACC title. Under Coach Watten, Maryland claimed a victory during the 2007 Championship with a 3-2 win over NC State.

ACC Rankings
The Terps currently stand first in the ACC in saves (eight), first in sacrifice bunts (58), second in triples (10), third in batters struck out (378), third in opponent's batting average (.212), fourth in batting (.268), fourth in stolen bases (63) and fourth in fielding percentage (.965). Additionally, several Maryland softball players rank among the best in the ACC in their respective top statistical categories.

Junior Nadine Blackie:
• Ranks tied for eighth in the ACC in triples (two), tied for 10th in walks (21), tied for 14th in home runs (six) and tied for 14th in on-base percentage (.405).
Senior Sarah Dooley:
• Ranks tied for third in the ACC in saves (two), fifth in appearances (35), eighth in wins (16), eighth in opponents' batting average (.218), tied for eighth in shutouts (four), tied for eighth in games started (22) and 10th in strikeouts (121).
Freshman Vangie Galindo:
• Ranks tied for 11th in the ACC in stolen bases (13).
Sophomore Kerry Hickey:
• Ranks first in the ACC in saves (four), first in relief appearances (19), first in games finished pitching (18), second in appearances (38), fifth in strikeouts (169), sixth in innings pitched (158.2), seventh in opponent's batting average (.211), eighth in ERA (2.43) and tied for 11th in wins (12). Offensively, Hickey stands tied for third in at bats (170) and 12th in hits (48).
Freshman Kendra Knight:
• Ranks first in the ACC in fewest hits allowed (45), sixth in opponents' batting average (.198) and 14th in strikeouts (88).
Freshman Kathy McLaughlin:
• Ranks tied for fourth in the ACC in triples (four) and tied for 13th in stolen bases (12).
Senior Breanna Shaw:
• Ranks tied for seventh in the ACC in doubles (nine) and 14th in batting (.326).
Junior Alex Schultz
• Ranks third in the ACC in hits by pitch (11) and tied for eighth in triples (two).
Freshman Michelle Takeda:
• Ranks tied for 10th in the ACC in home runs (seven).
Senior Devon Williams:
• Ranks tied for first in the ACC in sacrifice bunts (11) and tied for eighth in triples (two).

Did You Know
Alex Schultz has reached base via being hit by a pitch 11 times this season after doing so on 14 occasions in 2008. She is the first player in team history to record double digit hit-by-pitch totals in more than one season. Having been hit by a pitch 30 times in her Terrapins career, Schultz has led or tied for the team lead in that category in each of her first three seasons.