RALEIGH, N.C. - Seniors Sarah Dooley, Breanna Shaw and Devon Williams each turned in solid performances, but the University of Maryland softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Virginia Tech Friday evening during the first round of the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in NC State's Curtis and Jacqueline Dail Stadium.

Dooley, a veteran right-hander from St. Louis, pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, combining with starting pitcher Kerry Hickey to hold an opponent to less than four runs for the 14th time in the Terrapins' last 18 games. Team co-captains Shaw and Williams both contributed base hits for Maryland (29-26), which entered the 18th annual conference tournament as the fourth seed.

The Terps looked sharp in the field from the get-go Friday versus fifth-seeded Virginia Tech (28-27). During the top of the first inning, junior catcher Alex Schultz threw out Virginia Tech senior Charisse Mariconda at the second base on an attempted steal to end the inning.

After Virginia Tech plated a run in the top of the fourth, Maryland threatened during its half of the inning. Shaw led off by lacing a single to right center and Hickey moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Williams beat out an infield hit to put runners at the corners one out later before the rally stalled.

The Hokies, the two-time reigning ACC champions, took control of the contest during their half of fifth inning on a two-run double by senior Erin Ota.

Hickey (12-10) took the loss for Maryland despite limiting Georgia Tech to three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. By fanning five Hokies, Hickey now has 174 strikeouts this season - good for seventh place on the Terps' all-time single-season list. Making her 81st career appearance in the circle, Dooley did not allow a baserunner during the final 1.2 innings.

Freshman Vangie Galindo tallied a single during the third inning to raise her batting average to .304, and junior Nadine Blackie led off the sixth by drawing her team-leading 22nd walk of the season.

Sophomore Kenzie Roark (22-17) pitched a complete game to earn the win, and senior Beth Walker had a pair of hits for the Hokies.

The Terps' recent trend of fine play in the field continued Friday, as the team did not commit an error for the 24th time this season. Hickey snared a hard hit grounder right back to the pitching circle during the fourth inning, and Williams reacted quickly to grab a line drive at third base to end the top of the sixth. During the ensuing inning, Galindo dove in left field to catch a low liner, holding onto the ball in the top of her glove as she landed.

Virginia Tech (28-27)  000 120 0 - 3  6  0
Maryland (29-26)       000 000 0 - 0  3  0