Archive for April, 2011

April 30th, 2011 | 06:54 pm

Football: Red-White game recap

The Terrapin football team’s spring slate came to a close today with the annual Red-White game. The Red team took home the relatively meaningless win and outplayed the White team from start to finish to register the 35-7 victory.

Quarterback Danny O’Brien and the first-team offense shined for the Red team and provided much of the game’s fireworks. O’Brien got things started on the first play from scrimmage, hitting wideout Ronnie Tyler with a bomb over the top of the White defense for a 65-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

O’Brien and Tyler connected again in the 4th quarter, this time for a 27-yard touchdown to cap the scoring on the day.

O’Brien finished with 199 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Davin Meggett turned 12 carries into 73 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Adams chipped in 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

While the first-team defense struggled for much of the game — understandably, as coach Randy Edsall said their playbook was limited as to not reveal anything to future opponents — it settled down after giving up 21 points in the first quarter.

Linebacker Kenny Tate showed his transition from safety has been smooth with 11 tackles, while cornerback Cameron Chism settled in with 11 tackles and an interception.

As for reserves, freshman wide receiver Nigel King showed serious promise with the White team’s offense. While he had just three grabs for 19 yards, his athletic ability was very much on display whenever he touched the ball.

“I thought the guys really competed hard,” Edsall said. “Guys go out and work really really hard through 14 [spring] practices, and the spring game’s really a reward.

“You’ve got to remember: we didnt let them do anything … Usually in the spring game, the offense probably does have the advantage. It’s like the Pro Bowl.”

Be sure to check out Monday’s Diamondback for a full recap of today’s action.

April 30th, 2011 | 05:25 pm

Softball: Terps Take Two From Hokies

The Terrapin softball team clinched its first over-.500 record under coach Laura Watten today, beating Virginia Tech twice and improving to 10-5 in the ACC and 36-14 on the year. With four ACC games remaining, the worst the Terps can finish in the conference is 10-9. Their previous best in the ACC under Watten was 9-11 in 2009.

Both games today went down the wire with 3-2 finishes. In Game 1, the Terps got two RBI from outfielder Vangie Galindo and another from infielder Marisha Branson to record the three runs needed for the victory. Watten had to use all three pitchers to get the victory, with Kerry Hickey picking up her 16th win of the year and Kendra Knight recording her first save.

In Game 2, the Terps got two runs on a single by outfielder Sara Acosta and a subsequent throwing error in the second inning, and then a Kathy McLaughlin single brought in another runner to stake a 3-0 lead for the Terps. The Hokies fought back, scoring two more runs in the game, but Knight held them early and Hickey shut the door.

The Terps go for their third ACC series sweep tomorrow.

April 27th, 2011 | 06:29 pm

Softball: Terps Overwhelm Hornets, 13-0

The Terrapin softball team, in the midst of a trying ACC schedule, never had to worry about anything in Game 1 of today’s doubleheader against Delaware State.

The Terps, after going down meekly in the first, took advantage of Delaware State pitching in the second, scoring seven runs. Infielder Marisha Branson led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error after pitcher Kerry Hickey laid down a bunt. Hickey reached on the play. Infielder Lexi Carroll walked to load the bases and then infielder Kathy McLaughlin gave the Terps a 2-0 lead with a double to left-center field.

Infielder Nikki Maier loaded the bases again with a walk, chasing Delaware State starter Casey Beighley, and pinch-hitter Candice Beards grounded into a fielder’s choice that saw Carroll get out at home. The catcher tried to double up Beards at first, but threw into right field and McLaughlin scored for a 3-0 lead.

Then, singles by outfielder Sara Acosta and Vangie Galindo put two more runs across, and a fielder’s choice by infielder Bree Hanafin put the Terps up 6-0. Branson’s second at-bat of the inning yielded another RBI single, but Hickey ended the inning with a fly out and the Terps ahead 7-0.

The Terps loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third for Acosta, who singled in pinch-runner Courtney Kane for an 8-0 lead. Then Galindo grounded to first base and the throw home was offline, allowing another run to score. Then, Hanafin added an exclamation point with a grand slam to left-center to put the Terps up 13-0.

While the Terps weren’t able to add anymore runs, it did mark the first time this year that the team had scored more than six runs in multiple innings in a game. The final of 13-0 also marks the second-largest margin of victory for the Terps this year. The Terps took down Longwood 16-0 on March 5 and Virginia 13-0 on March 26.

Hickey threw five innings of two-hit ball, striking out 12 Hornets and walking none. Acosta and Branson both had multi-hit games, and Hanafin led the team with five RBI.

Galindo went 0-for-4 and had her nine-game hitting streak snapped, while seeing her league-leading .434 average fall to .423. She did, however, record two runs scored and two RBI.

April 27th, 2011 | 04:45 pm

Softball: Terps Move Up One Spot in RPI

The Terrapin softball team moved up one spot in the RPI rankings to No. 33 this week after going 4-1 over the week. The Terps are the second-highest in the rankings out of the ACC teams, behind No. 14 Georgia Tech. The computers had their most favorable view of the Terps on April 5, when the Terps were ranked No. 21 in the RPI after the Georgia Tech series.

The Terps are also receiving votes in this week’s ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll, with the 15 votes received putting the Terps in a tie with Indiana for being the first team outside the rankings. Fresno State is ranked No. 25 and received 36 votes.

The Terps were again left out in the voting for the USA Today/NFCA poll. They have onl;y received votes once, during the week of March 29.

The Terps take on Delaware State in a doubleheader at Robert E. Taylor Stadium momentarily.

April 27th, 2011 | 03:22 pm

Puerto Rico Tip-Off Field Announced

The 2011 Puerto Rico Tip-Off has secured all eight teams for its early season tournament, including the Terrapin men’s basketball team. The tournament is set to run Nov. 17, 18 and 20 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, in the cosmopolitan Hato Rey district of San Juan.

The Terps, fresh off its first season without a postseason appearance in 17 years, wasn’t one of the programs touted in the today’s release of the tournament. Instead, Purdue, Temple (both NCAA Tournament teams) and two 2011 NIT semifinalists “headline” the field.

Along with Purdue and Temple, the Terps will join Alabama, Colorado, Iona, Maryland, Western Michigan and Wichita State.

This past season the Terps played in the 2k Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden. They lost both of their games to Illinois and Pittsburgh.

This will be the Terps’ first appearance in the tournament. The previous winners include Minnesota, Villanova, Xavier, and Miami.

Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s Terrapin men’s basketball beat reporter Reach him at ceckard@umdbk.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ceckard.

April 27th, 2011 | 02:00 am

Men’s Basketball: Judge set to visit

Former Kansas State men’s basketball guard Wally Judge will visit College Park this weekend, ZagsBlog.com reported.

Judge, who left the Wildcat program in the middle of the 2010-11 season, will visit Washington next week and is also considering Memphis.

But it’s Rutgers that is considered the frontrunner to land Judge, who averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17 games as a sophomore for the Wildcats last season, according to ZagsBlog.com.

For a sense of what the former blue-chip recruit can do athletically, view this:

April 26th, 2011 | 06:06 pm

Softball: Hickey Named Pitcher of the Week

The Terrapin softball team’s Kerry Hickey was named co-ACC Pitcher of the Week after a 3-1 performance that included a no-hitter on Saturday against Florida State. Hickey pitched 17.0 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. The award is the team’s second on the year and Hickey’s sixth of her career.

Hickey had a hand in all three results of the series at Florida State. On Saturday, Hickey pitched the 11th no-hitter of her career, throwing seven innings against the Seminoles, striking out 10 and walking five. In Game 2, she came on to pitch the seventh and earn the win after the Terps came back from a 4-2 deficit in the top of the inning to take the win, 7-4. But on Sunday, Hickey took the loss for the Terps, pitching two innings and allowing three runs (two earned).

In the game on Sunday, Hickey had trouble with illegal pitches, something that has plagued her at time this season.

“It doesn’t hurt my confidence,” Hickey said this morning. “It just takes it out of our hands when they make calls like that. It’s also something that I can control, too. I just have to remember to stay focused.”

On the season, Hickey is now 14-7 with a 1.66 ERA. She leads the Terps with 181 strikouts in 143.1 innings pitched.

April 25th, 2011 | 10:38 pm

NBA Draft Entry Deadline passes

The deadline for NCAA men’s basketball underclassmen to declare for the 2011 NBA Draft passed Sunday night. Among the names not on the list include North Carolina trio of Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson along with potential top-five picks Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Baylor’s Perry Jones.

But one name Terrapin men’s basketball fans are all too familiar with still stands: Jordan Williams. All indications still point to Williams training in Las Vegas in preparation for the draft with others including former-Kansas guard Josh Shelby. Williams still has until May 8 to pull his name out of the draft though.

There have been no reports of Williams hiring an agent, so his eligibility is still intact.  But for the next two weeks, Terp fans are still on the Jordan Williams watch.

An important couple dates to keep in mind are May 7 and 8. New Jersey received league permission to have a two-day workout that will include underclassmen. Should Williams get an invitation, he will be able to hear from NBA scouts directly about his draft status.

A weak draft and several underclassmen unexpectedly returning to school has opened some room for Williams to possibly go higher in the draft. But it’s still early, especially with the NBA Draft Lottery still to come, and expectations are still varied.

ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford lists Williams as the No. 42 prospect in this year’s class. The list was updated Monday. Indications to Ford is that Williams is a second round pick. But NBADraft.net lists Williams going much earlier — No. 22 to Denver.

We’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest on his decision and what it means for the Terps men’s basketball team.

Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s Terrapin men’s basketball beat reporter. Reach him at ceckard@umdbk.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ceckard.

April 25th, 2011 | 04:59 pm

Men’s lacrosse: Cummings injures arm

Terrapin men’s lacrosse midfielder Joe Cummings injured his right arm against Duke on Sunday.

In the third quarter, Blue Devil defender Chris Hipps received a one-minute penalty for slashing Cummings, who was in visible pain after the incident, grimacing and grabbing his arm. The Terps capitalized on the extra-man, as attackman Travis Reed scored on the crease off a feed from attackman Ryan Young less than 30 seconds into Hipps’ penalty.

After the game, Cummings could be seen wearing a sling and ice as the Terps celebrated their first ACC Championship since 2005 inside Koskinen Stadium.

Upon arriving in College Park late Sunday night, the midfielder received X-rays, but the full extent of his injury has yet to be determined.

Here are some photos of when Cummings suffered the injury and immediately after.

Blue Devil defender Chris Hipps, left, slashes Terp midfielder Joe Cummings with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter. | Photo by Charlie DeBoyace | The Diamondback

Cummings grabs his arm in pain after being hit by Hipps. The Terps would go on to score during the ensuing extra-man opportunity, taking the lead for good en route to an 11-9 victory over Duke. | Photo by Charlie DeBoyace | The Diamondback

Cummings leads the Terps in goals with 24, and his abscence would definitely hurt as the team prepares for the season’s final stretch. With a bye this weekend and a matchup against Colgate on May 7, though, Cummings has time to recover before the NCAA Tournament starts first round action on May 14 and 15.

Jakob Engelke is The Diamondback’s Terrapin men’s lacrosse beat reporter. He can be reached at jengelke@umdbk.com. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Jakob_Engelke.

April 25th, 2011 | 12:05 am

Football: A.J. Francis has swag

On top of being one of the best Terp tweeters in College Park, Terrapin football defensive tackle A.J. Francis can rap. Francis tweeted the link to a song he did for the Terrapin women’s lacrosse team, a remix of Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow,” entitled “Fear the Turtle.”

Francis later tweeted that he is currently working on his next mix tape, but that he doesn’t know if any more Maryland-themed tracks will be featured.