Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

The Terrapin softball team is coming off its first loss in more than a month. Even still, a loss suffered in a victory against Pittsburgh might affect the team even more.

Senior first baseman Sarde Stewart - the team leader in batting, slugging, home runs and RBIs - injured her hand in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Panthers while trying to lay down a bunt on a high pitch. The ball struck Stewart's hand, which required stitches, and she did not return for either game of the doubleheader and will not suit up this weekend for the Maryland Spring Break Classic.

Replacing Stewart at first will be senior Brittany Bessho, who normally starts at catcher. Bessho had never played first base until last Wednesday, and this Friday will mark her first start at the position.

"Last game was the first time," Bessho said. "In summer ball as I was growing up, I played third. It's a corner position, just on the opposite end of the field. It's defense; I'll be fine."

Stepping in for Bessho at catcher will be freshman Julie Lofland, who is hitting .250 and has two RBIs on the season. Coach Laura Watten has tried to hide Lofland's strong arm from opponents during warmups with the hope that they will try to test her strength throwing to second. Bessho also likes the fervor with which her normal understudy attempts to pick off baserunners.

"The thing I really like about her is she's aggressive throwing at bases, so hopefully it will keep runners closer to the bags," Bessho said. "She's got a lot of great attributes that will help us a lot."

The No. 23 Terps (19-3) will play St. Peter's (0-7) Friday at 5 p.m., Lehigh (13-1) and Valparaiso (7-2) Saturday at 1 and 5 p.m., respectively, and finish up the weekend with UMBC (4-8) and Niagara (4-6) Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. The Terps swept the Retrievers 5-1 and 8-0 in a doubleheader back on Feb. 27.

Watten continued to emphasize that her team needs to be more consistent at the plate through seven innings, a message she hopes the Pittsburgh loss finally drove home.

"We're not going to win every game, that's reality," Watten said. "So it's good to have it happen against a team we absolutely should have beat because we can learn a lot from it. We're not going to pull miracles every time we go out and this team needs to learn that."

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