TOWSON, Md. - Dominique Ortega allowed just three hits as the Tigers shutout Maryland, 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon. Towson (24-12) got its only run of the contest in the fourth inning from Rachel Miller.
"I thought Dominique pitched very well for us today," said Coach Lisa Costello. "She kept us in the game and allowed us to come out on top."
The contest was a pitching battle from the start as Ortega and Kerry Hickey combined to allow just three base runners total through the first three innings.
Maryland looked to have something going in the top of the fourth as the Terrapins had runners on first and third with one out. Ortega got out of the inning as she got Marisha Branson to fly out to right field and the Tigers caught Lauren Ghent off second on the play.
Towson got its run in the bottom of the fourth. Miller led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sammi DiPompo sacrificed Miller to third and that brought Stef Streets to the plate. Streets then lifted a long fly ball to centerfield that Sara Acosta ran down. The ball was deep enough to be a sac fly and Miller scored on the play.
The Terrapins had one last chance in the seventh as they put runners on first and third with two outs. After a stolen base by the Terps, Ortega was able to get out of the inning as she got Vangie Galindo to ground out to first to end the game.
Ortega improves to 7-2 on the year with her third shutout of the season. She gave up three hits and walked just one batter. Hickey falls to 15-8 after giving up one run on three hits and striking out six. Hickey also had one of the three hits for Maryland at the plate.
DiPompo had a pair of hits and the sacrifice for the Tigers while Miller had a hit and the run scored.
The Tigers remain home for a key weekend Colonial Athletic Association series this weekend. The Tigers will welcome Hofstra to town for a three-game set starting with Saturday's doubleheader at noon. Saturday is also alumni day for the Tigers and the team will honor the members of the CAA 25th Anniversary team between games.
-- TIGERS --
