May 14, 2011

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ATLANTA - The Maryland softball team fell to North Carolina 7-3 Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinal at Georgia Tech's Mewborn Field.

Sophomore Sara Acosta went 3-for-3 on the day, while senior ACC Pitcher of the Year Kerry Hickey added two hits.

The Terps (39-17) added two runs in the bottom of the seventh, when freshman Amanda McCann, Acosta and All-ACC First Team member Vangie Galindo had three consecutive singles to load the bases. Hickey singled to left with two outs to score one, then sophomore Nikki Maier walked to score another.

The Tar Heels (34-20) took the early lead with a single by Amy Nece, then an RBI base hit my Logan Foulks in the top of the first inning. Catcher Samantha Mallory was down on the play. She left the game and junior Sloane Van Meter took over behind the plate.

The Terrapins tied it up in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, North Carolina pitcher Lori Spingola hit senior Marisha Branson with a pitch that brought in the tying run.

North Carolina extended its lead to 2-1 when Brittany Robinson hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the second inning.

The Tar Heels added four runs in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Robinson grounded out to score a run. With runners on second and third, pinch hitter Kelsey Green hit a three-run homer over the left field wall to go up 6-1.

Hickey started in the circle for the Terps. She pitched 7.0 innings and gave up seven hits with six strikeouts and a walk. Junior Kendra Knight came on in the sixth.

North Carolina added its seventh run in the top of the seventh. Ally Blake reached on an error that scored Nece from second.

The Terps will look to rebound next weekend in the NCAA Regionals. Maryland will find out its NCAA Regionals opponents and site Sunday at 10 p.m. on the NCAA Division I Softball Selection Show on ESPNU.