In a tight ACC conference that has shown more parity than ever, the No. 7-seeded Terrapins feel there is little separation between them and No. 2-seeded North Carolina, who will be the Terps’ first round opponent in the 2006 ACC Softball Championships.

“I feel that this team can beat anyone in the conference,” Watten said last week before knowing her draw. “The talent is even in our conference, and we can beat anyone whether we are last or first.”

It is good Watten is confident her team can beat the best, because North Carolina is the class of the conference, even at the No. 2 seed. They were nationally ranked for much of the year and exhibit a good balance of pitching, hitting and defense. The Tar Heels won two of three from the Terps when they played earlier this season.

Another aspect that will make this match-up tough for the Terps is that the tournament is hosted by the Tar Heels.

“They definitely have the advantage of being on their home field, but we beat them once already in ACC play, so I don’t see why we can’t do it again on their home field,” sophomore Jenny Belak said.

The Terps will have to face senior pitcher Crystal Cox, who leads the ACC with 25 wins and was neck and neck with Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher all year long for the conference’s top ERA. Cox picked up both of North Carolina’s wins and held the Terps to just one run in the 14 innings she pitched against them this year.

“We just try to think of her as any other pitcher,” junior Lindsay Klein said. “We’ve faced better, we’ve faced worse. We just have to hit our pitch and not hit into their defense.”

Both Belak and freshman Lindsey Ubrun said they weren’t impressed with Cox the first time they saw her. But judging by Cox’s performance against the Terps, maybe they should be impressed.

The Terps have not flexed their muscles offensively when going up against the top pitchers in the conference, but coach Laura Watten feels they just need to be more consistent.

“We need to focus on bringing our best game and playing together,” Watten said. “We have to step up our entire level of play intensity-wise. We need our key hitters to hit and our defensive players to make those plays.”

There was a feeling of excitement among the Terps as they prepared for today’s first round of tournament play. The veterans know how critical and intense the games will become, and one freshman is anxiously waiting to take the field and shine at the biggest stage.

“I’ve been looking forward to the tournament all season, so I’m really excited to go out and play,” Ubrun said.

The Terps will need Ubrun to alleviate any freshman jitters early, because her big bat is crucial to the Terps’ lineup. She is the hottest hitter on the team, and she has the power to carry the Terps offensively, even when her teammates are struggling.

If the Terps lose to the Tar Heels, it could be a quick trip down to Chapel Hill because their second game would be played Thursday night, and another loss would result in elimination from the tournament. The players say they’re confident that won’t happen.

“I love [the match up],” senior Crystal Crews said. “I’d rather take Virginia Tech and North Carolina out more than anyone else. They are very sure of themselves, and they’ll be fun to take out.”

If Crews can pick up a win against the Tar Heels, she might get her wish of taking out both teams, because the Terps would be scheduled to play the winner of Virginia Tech versus Virginia in the next round of games.

“The tournament just gets tougher, tougher and tougher as you go on,” Watten said. “We just have to continue to get better and bring our A-game every time out.”

Contact reporter Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.