The Terrapins started their ACC Softball Championship yesterday afternoonwith Jenny Belak striking out swinging to lead off the first game of theday. Exactly nine hours later, the Terps picked up their second loss of theday, as Belak once again struck out swinging, this time officially puttingan end to the Terps’ season and ACC championship hopes.

The Terps, who were seeded No. 7 going into the conference tournament, fellto North Carolina in the first round, setting up an elimination match-upagainst Virginia Tech later last night. After hitting the ball well in theiropening game loss, the Terps were void of any offensive power in game twoagainst ACC player of the Year Angela Tincher.

The two teams had met on April 9 with Terps ace Crystal Crews and Tincherdueling it out until the Terps finally added a run to the empty scoreboardin the bottom of the eight inning.

But with both teams’ seasons on the line,it was Tincher who showed why she was dubbed tops in the conference.Just like in the previous game the two teams played, Crews gave up justthree hits Thursday night, while Tincher yielded two and had another 13strikeout performance. It was the Hokies this time, however, who got the bighit when it counted.

“We can’t make mistakes,” coach Laura Watten said after the first game,eluding to a crucial blunder where freshman Devon Williams was picked offthird base with the bases loaded. “Good teams will take advantage of those.”

After a scoreless five innings, the Terps made their mistake, and the Hokiestook advantage of it. Crews walked Caroline Stolle to lead off the sixthinning, and she advanced to second base with a wild pitch. Unable to shakethe errant toss off, Crews surrendered a double to catcher Kelsy Rokey onthe very next pitch, which drove in Stolle for the lone run of the game.

As the Terps remained scoreless for the duration of the game, Crews pickedup her second loss of the day and ended her solid career in red and black ona sour note.The two losses dropped the Terps conference record to 7-15 and abruptly puta close to their up and down season.

After losing in the semifinals lastyear, the Terps had high expectations that they could go far in thetournament again this year despite their modest record, but they failed topick up clutch hits when it mattered most and found themselves on the fasttrack back to College Park after just one day of games.

Contact reporter Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.