Terps Snap No. 25 Softball's Winning Streak, 7-4

Saturday, April 28

College Park, Md.

1:00 PM

NC State

40-16, 14-5

Maryland

29-20, 5-10

NC State

Maryland

Terps Snap No. 25 Softball's Winning Streak, 7-4

4/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. No. 25 NC State dropped its first contest in 17 outings, falling 7-4 to Maryland in the second of two games on Saturday, April 28. Down one entering the bottom of the sixth, the Terps put four runs on the board, taking the lead it needed to secure the win. With the loss, NC State falls to 40-17 (14-6 ACC), while Maryland climbs to 30-20 (6-10 ACC). Megan Dalthorp (2-2) took the loss while Meredith Nelles (17-9) grabbed the decision, snapping the Pack’s school-record 16 game winning streak.

A win tomorrow against the Terrapins in the rubber match will guarantee the No. 2 seed at the ACC Championships for State. If the Pack falls, Georgia Tech will take second and NC State will finish at third.

Lindsay Klein led the Terrapins at the plate with two home runs and three RBIs. Lisa Nentwig paced the Pack offensively going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored.

Allison Presnell put the Pack up 2-0 with a two run double to right-center in the top of the first before being thrown out trying to stretch her double into a triple to end the inning.

Maryland threatened in the bottom of the second, but failed to score. With two outs and runners on second and third, Lindsey Ubrun lined one back to the circle and Shaina Ervin found it in her glove, ending the inning.

State had an opportunity to blow the game wide open in the top of the third, but wasn’t able to capitalize. Nentwig led off with a double to right field that nearly found its way out of the ballpark, and Heather Gelbard followed with her second single of the game. Following a line out to center by Claudia Cooper, Jen Chamberlin walked to load the bases.

With that Maryland removed Nelles from the circle and inserted Abbey Welch. Jennifer Patterson then lined to second and Chamberlin was doubled-up at first to end the inning.

The Terrapins made it a 2-1 game in the bottom of the fourth. Amber Jackson drew a one out walk and quickly stole second. Jenny Belak followed with a grounder to second that was bobbled by Kristine Bechtholdt, allowing Jackson to score. Belak, however, came too far off of first, and Bechtholdt tossed the ball back to Nentwig at first to tag Belak out.

Sensational defense kept Maryland from making something happen in the bottom of the fourth. Brittany Besho led off with a base hit to right and Meghan Booth came on to run in her spot. Keri Lounge then lined one towards third, but Chamberlin made an incredible snag to record the out. Patterson then gunned down Besho trying to steal second and Sarde Stewart flew out to deep right.

The Pack moved the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth. Bechtholdt singled through the left side to get things started, and Nentwig followed with an infield base hit. Gelbard then lined out to center, but Bechtholdt took third and Nentwig pushed to second. Blair Harkey followed by reaching first on a passed ball despite swinging at strike three, loading the bases for Chamberlin.

Chamberlin sent an RBI single up the middle, scoring Bechtholdt immediately. An errant throw from center then nailed Harkey in the back of the helmet at second and ricocheted off, allowing Nentwig to score.

The Terps cut the score to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Lindsay Klein drilled a solo-shot off of the scoreboard to lead off the inning and Jackson added another three at-bats later.

State staged a two-out rally in the top of the sixth, but couldn’t add any insurance runs. Nentwig mailed her third hit of the game, and second double, to center. Gelbard followed by collecting a free pass and Harkey then took a pitch to the arm, loading the bases. At that time Nelles re-entered the game in the circle for Maryland, and Chamberlin hit into a fielder’s choice, ending the Pack’s threat.

Maryland made NC State pay for it in the bottom half of the inning. Ervin walked Alex Schultz to start things off and head coach Lisa Navas made some defensive adjustments, moving Dalthorp into the circle and entering Ashleigh Davis in left field.

Bestho followed with a single to right. Lounge then sent a fielder’s choice to second where Bestho was forced out at the bag. Lounge quickly stole second with Stewart at the plate, putting runners on second and third. Stewart then lined a two-run double into left-center, giving Maryland its first lead at 5-4. Klein followed by drilling her second dinger to straightaway center, moving the score to 7-4.

NC State and Maryland will wrap up the series tomorrow, Sunday, April 29, at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available on GoPack.com.