May 12, 2001

ACC Softball Championship Information
Friday's Recaps

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*** GAME FOUR ***
VIRGINIA HOMERS ELIMINATE GEORGIA TECH IN ACC SOFTBALL
RALEIGH, N.C. - Virginia advanced in Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship play Saturday with a 3-2 win over Georgia Tech in the day's opening game at Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The third-seeded Cavaliers (52-16) will face fifth-seeded Maryland later today in a game scheduled for 3 p.m. Georgia Tech, the tournament's fourth seed, was ousted in the double-elimination format and finished the season with a 24-29 record.

Georgia Tech got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when first baseman Erin Hawley doubled to left center and scored on another double by centerfielder Kori Jacobson. But Virginia took command in the top of the fourth when shortstop Heather Field homered over the left field fence to score third baseman Ruby Rojas, who had reached on a bunt single.

Georgia Tech then evened the score in the bottom of that inning. With one out, designated player Mimi Utt reached base on an infield single and advanced to second on a single to left by left fielder Jennifer Biggers. Utt was replaced on second by pinch runner Sara Wissmann, who reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Susanne Miller.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, Virginia right fielder Meaghan Young hit a solo home run, her fourth of the season, to give her team a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Joanna Barstad started on the mound for Virginia and Kristen Dennis earned the win with 3.2 innings of relief. Dennis (18-7) faced 11 batters and didn't give up a hit. Erin Voeltz (12-18) took the loss for Georgia Tech, giving up six hits.

Game 4: Virginia 3, Georgia Tech 2
UVa            000 210 0 * 3 6 0
GT             010 100 0 * 2 6 1
WP: Kristen Dennis (18-7), LP: Erin Voeltz (12-18)
HR: Meaghan Young (4), Heather Field (5)

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*** GAME FIVE ***
WIN OVER FSU PUTS TAR HEELS IN ACC SOFTBALL TITLE GAME
RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina beat Florida State 2-0 Saturday afternoon at Walnut Creek Softball Complex to advance to the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship title game for just the second time in Tar Heel history. As the 10th-annual tournament concludes on Sunday, Carolina (36-17-1) will be in search of its first conference crown in softball.

The ACC championship game is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. UNC's opponent will be determined in an 11 a.m. game between Florida State and the winner of Saturday afternoon's game between Maryland and Virginia.

"We played like a championship team today," UNC coach Donna Papa said after the win over the Seminoles (53-8), seeded first in the tournament and ranked No. 16 in the nation. "We're very pleased to be in the championship game, but we're not finished yet. We'll have to play even better tomorrow."

The second-seeded Tar Heels scored the only run they'd need in the bottom of the second. Catcher Natalie Anter led off the inning with a walk and was replaced on first by pinch runner Lauren Looper. Looper advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by designated player Kelly Ramsey, stole third, then scored on an infield single by left fielder Emily Price.

Carolina added a run in the bottom of the fifth when third baseman Dionne Streete led off the inning with a single to right, advanced on a ground out and scored on right fielder Rosie Gustavson's double to left.

With six hits, the Seminoles out-hit UNC by one, but left six runners on base to Carolina's five. FSU got doubles from third baseman Staci Brandon, first baseman Robyn Gauger and shortstop Natalie Bennett. Leslie Malerich (21-3) took the loss for Florida State, giving up five hits and three walks and fanning three.

Carolina's Radara McHugh pitched the complete game shutout, her 13th of the season, to improve to 22-10. She struck out five and walked one. Neither team committed an error in the game.

"We played flawless defense and had some outstanding defensive plays by Natalie Anter at catcher, Quinn Porter in center and Dionne Streete at third," Papa said. "Radara pitched a great game, and the whole team played with confidence and maturity. We're playing well at the right time."

The Seminoles defeated UNC 2-0 and 5-0 in regular-season ACC meetings, and UNC won 3-2 in eight innings in a non-conference matchup at the Tar Heel Invitational on April 8. Saturday's game marked just the third time this season that FSU has been shut out.

UNC's other appearance in the ACC Championship title game was in 1996, the only other time that the Tar Heels have hosted the tournament. At Walnut Creek, FSU beat UNC 3-1 in the championship game.

Game 5: North Carolina 2, Florida State 0
FSU      000 000 0 * 0 6 0
UNC      010 010 X * 2 5 0
WP: Radara McHugh (22-10), LP: Leslie Malerich (21-3)

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*** GAME SIX ***
MARYLAND TOPS VIRGINA TO ADVANCE IN ACC SOFTBALL ACTION
RALEIGH, N.C. - Maryland reached the final day of play in the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship with a 3-1 win against Virginia Saturday at Walnut Creek Softball Complex. The fifth seeded Terrapins (40-22) will face Florida State (53-9), the tournament's top seed, on Sunday morning at 11, The winner of that game will move on to the 1 p.m. championship game to face North Carolina.

The Cavaliers (52-17) scored early to take a 1-0 advantage. Right fielder Meaghan Young led off the game with a walk. After the Terrapins recorded two outs, Young stole second. She scored on a single to left by designated player Kristen Dennis.

Virginia took the one-run lead into a one hour and 27 minute delay in the game due to lightning. When play resumed, all the scoring was Maryland's. The Terrapins registered two runs in the bottom of the fourth on two hits and a UVa error. Right fielder Annmarie Browne led off the inning with a single through the left side. The next batter, shortstop Jennifer Potzman, was hit by a pitch. First baseman Kiesha Pickeral put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Browne then scored on an error that put catcher Beth Radford on first and Potzman on third. Potzman came home two batters later on a single by second baseman Jillian Callaway.

Maryland's final run came in the fifth inning. With one out, centerfielder Michelle Burrell doubled to left. Dennis then relieved Virginia starter Erin Allinder and issued a walk to Browne. After Potzman lined out, Pickeral doubled down the left field line to score Burrell.

Terrapin pitcher Amanda Bettker improved to 16-7 on the season. She struck out two and gave up four hits. Allinder (14-5) took the loss for Virginia after giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits.

Game 6: Maryland 3, Virginia 1
UVa       100 000 0 * 1 4 1
UM        000 210 X * 3 5 2
WP: Amanda Bettker (16-7), LP: Erin Allinder (14-5)

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