April 30, 2011

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BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Maryland softball team held off Virginia Tech twice Saturday for 3-2 wins at Tech Softball Park. In both games of the doubleheader, the Hokies rallied in later innings, but the Terrapins held them off to clinch their fourth straight ACC series win.

With the win, the Terps (36-14, 10-5 ACC) have now notched the most ACC wins in a season in program history.

Senior Kerry Hickey, the current ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week, started in the circle in the first game for the Terrapins. She pitched 5.2 innings with five hits and an unearned run allowed. She also notched 11 strikeouts.

The Terps took the 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Freshman Amanda McCann led off with a single and advanced to second when Sara Acosta bunted her over. McCann took third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Marisha Branson.

The Hokies (35-18, 9-11 ACC) tied it at one in the bottom of the third on a passed ball that scored Ashton Ward from third.

Maryland added another run in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, the Terrapins' leader at the plate, junior Vangie Galindo, hit an RBI single for the go-ahead run once again.

In the fourth and fifth innings, the Hokies had runners on second and third but were held scoreless by Hickey in the fourth and freshman Ashley Czechner in the fifth.

The Terps tacked on their third run in the top of the sixth. Nikki Maier led off with a double to left and scored on another RBI base hit by Galindo.

Virginia Tech threated to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Kristen Froelich led off with a double to left center. With two outs and the bases loaded, Bkaye Smith singled up the middle to make the score 3-2. Junior Kendra Knight came on to close the game with the bases still loaded and struck Ward out on three straight pitches to end the game.

Knight started in the circle in the second game. She pitched 4.0 innings with one run and three hits allowed.

The Terps took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Acosta singled with runners on second and third to score both. Maryland added a run in the top of the third. Branson hit a double to left center and scored on an RBI single by junior Kathy McLaughlin.

The Hokies got on the board in the bottom of the third off of an RBI single by Courtney Liddle.

In the bottom of the seventh, Virginia Tech's Smith led off with a triple off of relief pitcher Hickey. She scored off of an illegal pitch by Hickey. After allowing another base hit, Hickey struck out Liddle and Froehlich to seal the win.

The Terps and the Hokies will play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tech Softball Park. Live stats will be available.