Softball Shut Down By Terps

But in Saturday's rematch at the UNC Softball Complex, Bettker had a different number in mind: zero.

Bettker shut out the Tar Heels in ten innings of work, picking up a win and a save as the Terrapins swept a doubleheader, winning 3-0 and 5-1.

When UNC (30-25, 2-6 in the ACC) hosted Maryland on April 7, Bettker allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in six innings of work as the Tar Heels cruised to an easy win.

But the North Carolina bats managed just three hits in each game Saturday. Bettker threw a three-hit shutout in Game One and tossed three perfect innings of relief in Game Two.

"We didn't show up to play today," said UNC catcher Natalie Anter. "We didn't score runs; we didn't hit. We were there physically, but not mentally."

Anter was 0-for-3 with three walks and a pair of strikeouts on the day. The Terrapins (30-18, 2-3) were careful not to give her anything to hit, particularly because the games were tight.

The first game was scoreless until the top of the fifth, when Maryland's Jen Peel hit a two-run double to left-center field off Ashley Allen (13-7). Allen left the game in the bottom of the fifth after fracturing her left wrist sliding into second base. Her status for the rest of the season is questionable.

The Terps added an insurance run in the sixth, and Bettker made it hold up.

"We just didn't hit the ball," said UNC coach Donna Papa. "We didn't create a lot of opportunities for ourselves, which is uncharacteristic for us."

A large reason the Tar Heels didn't have a lot of scoring opportunities was because leadoff hitter Tiffany Tolleson struggled. The fleet-footed center fielder, who broke UNC's school record for hits in a season last week, went 0-for-3 in Game One and 1-for-3 in Game Two.

"Tiffany got on base only once, which hurt us because she's usually a catalyst for our offense," Papa said.

Maryland's offense got going early in Game Two. The Terrapins got three hits in the first inning against UNC starter Shannon Walsh (12-12), capped off by Monica Cyphert's two-run double. The Terps added a run in the fourth on a walk, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI double.

Maryland starter Jessica Aditays (7-4) allowed the Tar Heels only two opportunities to score in her four innings of work.

The first came in the third when UNC squandered a leadoff double by Walsh.

The second and final opportunity came in the fourth. With two outs and Sarah Young on second and Jessica Young on first, Kelly Ramsey doubled to center field. Sarah Young scored, and Jessica Young, who originally held at third, bolted for home when the throw got past the catcher. She appeared to slide in around Aditays' tag, but was called out.

"Everybody who saw it up close thought I was safe," Young said. "I thought I was safe, but blues sometimes make the calls that don't go our way."

Papa didn't make any excuses.

"We just didn't show up today," she said. "I don't know if we thought we were going to walk all over them or what. Nobody stepped up for us. Nobody took charge. I can't think of two more disappointing games since the first weekend of the season."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.