Terps Head to ACC Tournament

May 12, 2011

ATLANTA - The third-seeded Maryland softball team will begin play in the ACC Tournament Friday with a noon game vs. sixth-seeded North Carolina State at Georgia Tech's Mewborn Field.

This year marks the Terrapins' highest league finish since 2002.

Senior Kerry Hickey was named ACC Pitcher of the Year Friday, while junior Vangie Galindo was named to the All-ACC First Team. Junior Bree Hanafin was named to the Second Team. For more on the awards, please click here here.

The Terps (38-16, 12-7 ACC) and the Wolfpack (26-22, 7-12 ACC) will play the first game of the seven game tournament. The noon game will be streamed live on the The ACC Video Center.

For the full ACC Tournament bracket and more information, please visit theacc.com.

The Terps split a doubleheader with NC State in College Park earlier this year, winning game one 3-1 and falling in game two 2-1. The first game of the three-game series was canceled due to inclement weather.

QUICK HITS

The Maryland softball team heads into the ACC Tournament with a 38-16 overall record and a 12-7 ACC record.

Most recently, the Terps took one game in a three-game series vs. North Carolina last weekend.

The Terrapins earned their highest ACC finish since 2002. Their 38 wins this year are the most since 2001 and their 12 conference wins are most in school history.

The Terrapins lead the ACC and are No. 39 in the country in fielding percentage (.969).

Head Coach Laura Watten is 202-142 at Maryland and 524-349 in her career heading into the weekend.

As a program, the Terps are 540-405 since 1995.

HOT HITTERS

Junior Vangie Galindo is leading the Terps and is second in the ACC with her batting average of .418. Junior Bree Hanafin is sixth in the league and second on the team with a .365 clip. Galindo's average puts her at No. 44 in the country currently.

Galindo's career average of .329 is currently the best in Maryland history.

Hanafin is in the top 10 of the league in six offensive categories - batting avg., slugging pct., on base pct., hits, bases and sac bunts.

Galindo leads the league in hits with 71, and on Sunday she broke Maryland's single season hits record of 70, set by Jenny Belak in 2006.

Senior Marisha Branson's .303 career average is No. 6 in the Terps' history. Her .335 average this season is in the top 10 of single season averages. Sara Acosta's .288 career average is No. 13.

TERPS IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT

The Terps are entering the ACC Tournament with their highest seed since 2002.

Maryland has earned the three-seed five times since it started softball in 1995.

The Terrapins last won an ACC Tournament game in 2007. It was a 3-2 win over NC State.

MAJOR MILESTONES

Last Sunday, Galindo broke the Terps' season hits record with her 71st hit this year. It was a bunt single to third in the bottom of the first.

Both senior Kerry Hickey and junior Kendra Knight are in the top five on the Terps' all-time career strikeout list.

Hickey earned her 600th strikeout at Florida State and was the third Terp to break the 500-mark. She is No. 2 in career strikeouts with 650.

Knight recorded her 400th career strikeout last year and has 454 in her career, making her just the fifth Terrapin pitcher to break the 400-mark.

As a staff, the Terrapins need just 12 strikeouts to break the team strikeout record of 471 in a season, set last year in 2010.

Galindo and Branson are both currently in the top 10 of the Terps' career batting average list. Galindo leads with her .329 average.

Galindo is also in the top five in stolen bases.

Galindo and Hanafin are both currently in the top five of Maryland's single season average list.

POWER PITCHING

The Terrapin pitching staff leads the ACC in strikeouts with 459 and 133 struck out looking.

Maryland's pitching unit also leads the league with a 1.72 ERA, which is No. 20 in the country.

The Terrapins have given up the fewest hits (239) and fewest runs (112) in the league.

The Terps' opposing batting average is the best in the league - .181.

Hickey's ERA of 1.49 is tied for first in the league and freshman Ashley Czechner's ERA of 1.78 is fourth. Knight's 2.06 is fifth. Hickey's is No. 35 in the country.

Czechner's and Knight's opposing batting averages of .166 and .182 are Nos. 1 and 3 in the ACC., respectively. Hickey's 1.89 is fourth.

Knight is No. 21 and Hickey is No. 42 in the country in hits allowed her seven innings. Hickey is also No. 29 in shutouts.

- Terps -

Players Mentioned

Jenny Belak

Kerry Hickey

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