Feb. 9, 2008

Maryland Softball Shocks 12th-Ranked Michigan

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Meghan Booth scored the winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the University of Maryland softball team defeated 12th ranked Michigan, 2-0, in nine innings Friday afternoon in the FAU Kick-Off Classic. Later in the day, Maryland scored twice in the bottom of the third inning and three pitchers combined on a five-hitter for a 2-1 victory over Massachusetts. The pair of wins gave Maryland its first 2-0 start in school history.

In the ninth inning of the opener, Booth was placed on second base per the international tie-breaker rule which applies to extra-inning games at the tournament. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jenny Belak and scored on a single by Niki Lau. Lau, who advanced to second on an error, then scored an insurance run on a single to left field by Hickey.

Maryland starting pitcher Sarah Dooley struck out four in 5-2/3 scoreless innings. Kerry Hickey (1-0), who only allowed one hit with three strikeouts in 3-1/3 innings, came on to strike out Dorian Shaw to strand Michigan's Samantha Findley at third base in the bottom of the sixth.

Michigan Jordan Taylor (0-1) pitched four perfect innings before Maryland's Alex Schultz broke up the perfect game with a single in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor pitched all nine innings and ended up with seven strikeouts.

Virginia Tech Downs #21 Missouri, 2-0, After Falling to Pitt

MIAMI - After a rocky start in the opening game of the season, the 15th-ranked Virginia Tech softball team took down 21st-ranked Missouri, 2-0, at the Florida International Invitational Friday afternoon at University Park.

The Tigers nearly got on the board in the first inning, taking advantage of a shaky Angela Tincher. The senior All-American gave up a single and walk to start the game, throwing nearly 30 pitches before recording the first out. But she settled down and struck out the last two batters of the inning to escape trouble.

The Hokies finally broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Kelsey Hoffman reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on Charisse Mariconda's single. Caroline Stolle then drove her in with a single just inside the third base bag.

In the fifth inning, Erin Ota singled to left and stole second base with two out in the inning. After Jessica Everhart walked, Hoffman reached on an infield single to load the bases. But Mariconda flew out to center to end the threat.

Carolina Opens 2008 Season With Big Win Over George Washington

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A 16-run first inning propelled the North Carolina softball team to a record breaking 21-1 season-opening win over George Washington on Friday in the second game of the Carolina Classic. The Tar Heels finished with 11 hits on the day, while pushing a school record 21 runs across in the five inning contest as junior Amber Johnson earned her first win of the 2008 season. Whitney Allen finished the game with five RBIs and three runs scored as she connected on the third home run of her career.

Johnson was provided quite a bit of run support before she toed the slab as her teammates scored 16 runs in the top of the first on just six hits. Cassie Palmer got things going as she sent a ball over the left field fence to put the Tar Heels up 2-0. Five consecutive walks made the score 4-0 before Allen drove in her first run of the game with a fielder's choice to second base. A Christine Knauer infield single made it 6-0 before Breanna Brown cleared the bases with a single that the rightfielder misplayed and allowed Brown to race around the bases for the 10th run of the inning.

Tar Heels Take Down East Carolina, 5-1

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After a 21-1 season-opening win, the Tar Heels were put to the test in their second game of the Carolina Classic against East Carolina as they picked up a 5-1 victory at Anderson Stadium. Junior Lisa Norris picked up the win in the circle as she went the distance allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight. The Tar Heels will play a pair again tomorrow at 12:30 against Kent State and at 3 against NC Central.

The Tar Heels almost tallied another big first inning as they loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to push any runs across after a ground out ended the inning. A 1-2-3 inning from Norris put the bats back in the hands of the Tar Heels as they would load the bases once again and for the second consecutive inning the score would remain 0-0. Norris turned in another perfect effort in the third before the Tar Heels were able to push two runs across the dish. Emily Troup drove in Ashley Oxendine with an RBI double to get things going before Anna Roberts picked up an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

Offense Explodes in NC State Win Over UCF, 10-6

ORLANDO, Fla. - The NC State offense put on a display in a 10-6 victory over Central Florida on Friday, Feb. 8 in Orlando, Fla., at the UCF Softball Tournament. The win moves the Pack to 1-1 on the young season, while the Golden Knights fall to 1-1.

Shanna Smith tied a school record for hits in a game with five, and the entire team set a new record for total hits in a contest overall with 18. Prior to tonight's showing, the team record for hits in a game was 17 on two occasions. Two-time All-ACC letterwinner Heather Gelbard had five hits for State against Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 6, 2005.

Smith's onslaught marked the eighth time in school history that a Wolfpack player etched five or more RBIs in a game. The 2007 first team All-ACC performer also swiped a bag and scored three runs.

"We battled the whole game and made the plays we needed to down the stretch," said Smith. "I was seeing the ball well and being patient at the plate. We had several players that delivered more than once. It was nice to see the bats come out and get some work done."

NC State Drops Season Opener to Kansas, 4-3

ORLANDO, Fla. - Despite making things interesting in its last at-bat, NC State lost its 2008 season opener to Kansas, 4-3, at the UCF Tournament in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, Feb. 8. Sophomore Lindsay Campana was solid in her first game with the Pack, allowing just one earned run while fanning five.

State now stands at 0-1, while KU moves to 2-0.

In all, seven players made their debuts in the red and white; Alyssa Allbritten, Campana, Bridget Desbois, Lacey Holm, Alyssa Ishibashi, Eliza Jacobellis and Lauren Peters.

Shanna Smith and Peters delivered back-to-back singles to get things started, and Kristine Bechtholdt loaded the bases when she reached third on a miscue by Jayhawks third baseman Val Chapple. Allbritten put the Pack on the board with a base hit through the left side, scoring Smith from third. Peters then scored on an Ishibashi grounder to second.

Stevie Crisosto got the ball rolling for KU in the bottom of the third, reaching first on an error by Smith at short and eventually scoring on a Dougie McCaulley blooper into shallow left-center.

Florida State Takes Down Southern Miss in Early Bird Tournament Opener

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - For the second consecutive year, Florida State opened the 2008 campaign with an eight-run rule game as the Seminoles took an 11-3 victory over Southern Miss in six innings on day one of the Early Bird Tournament (Feb. 8). For head coach JoAnne Graf that

The victory went to sophomore Terese Gober who matched her career high strikeouts with 10 after five innings and allowed only one earned run on two hits with two walks. Taking the loss for Southern Miss was Samantha Davis as the Golden Eagles end the day 1-1.

Eight of nine Florida State's lineup recorded runs with four Seminoles notching two apiece. Senior Whitney Buckmon went 3-for-4 with a career-tying two runs while bringing her career total stolen bases to 46 with one against SMU.

Leading the batters was freshman Ashley Stager who went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI in her debut game. Fellow fresh face Allison Collins made a statement as she pounded her first homerun as a Seminole, finished the game 3-for-2 with one run and three RBI's.

Senior Brittany Osmon went 2-for-4 and tied Collins with three RBI's and two runs scored.

Seminoles Fall to Louisville in Second Game Friday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Coming off a run-ruled win against SMU earlier in the day, the Seminoles were unable to hold off Louisville as they fell 4-3 to bring day one of the Early Bird Tournament to a close on JoAnne Graf Field. Florida State will start Saturday at 1-1 while the Cardinals maintain a perfect 2-0.

Taking the loss for Florida State was junior south-paw Melissa May who struck-out two and gave up only six hits, four runs while walking two. Winning the game for Louisville was Mandi Rodriguez with the save going to Kassie Stanfill.

The runs started coming in the top of the third as Louisville put the first run on the board. The Seminoles would answer as senior Whitney Buckmon scored off an RBI from freshman Ashley Stager. Buckmon led FSU at bat, going 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run. At the end of three complete innings the score was tied one apiece.

The Cardinals would extend their lead in the top of the fourth as a Seminole error loaded the bases with one out. Three unearned runs would cross home plate and push Louisville to a 4-1 lead.