May 10, 2012

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The fifth-seeded Maryland softball team fell to fourth-seeded Virginia Tech 5-2 Thursday night in the opening round of the ACC Tournament at North Carolina.

The Terrapins (34-20) held a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, but a grand slam by the Hokies' Kat Banks gave Virginia Tech (39-18) the win.

Both teams notched four hits on the game. Senior pitcher Kendra Knight pitched all 6.0 innings with just three walks allowed and nine strikeouts. Knight picked up two of strikeouts to end the bottom of the fourth. Those two gave her 300 strikeouts on the season and made her the first Terrapin ever to rack up 300 in a season.

After three scoreless innings, the Terrapins broke open the score first. With one out, Shannon Bustillos and Candice Beards hit back-to-back base hits to give the Terps' a 1-0 lead. Bustillos hit her's, then Bria Taylor came on to pinch run. She moved to second on a passed ball, then scored off Beards'.

In the bottom of the sixth with a runner on and no outs, Virginia Tech's Courtney Liddle hit an infield single that hit Knight's hand, but she stayed in to battle through. With two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning, the Hokies' Kat Banks hit a grand slam over the right field wall to give them a 5-1 lead.

Sloane Van Meter hit her first career home run in the bottom of the seventh to finalize the score at 5-2.

Earlier in the day Thursday, seniors Vangie Galindo, Kathy McLaughlin and Knight were named to the All-ACC Team. Galindo and McLaughlin were voted to the First Team, while Knight made the Second Team.

The NCAA Selection Show for the 2012 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament is scheduled for Sunday at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.