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

The Terrapin softball team ended its regular season on a high note, but not before having a letdown the day before.

The Terps (36-21, 7-14 ACC) defeated Boston College 8-0 in a five-inning Sunday game that was called due to the eight-run rule. Their run-rule victory came one day after twice losing to the Eagles, 5-2 and 3-1, and left coach Laura Watten dismayed over what she felt had been a disappointing season.

"I'm not satisfied, and not really happy with how we're finishing," Watten said. "My intentions and expectations of this team from here on out are always going to be that of a top-20 team. ... I absolutely envisioned us in [the] top three or four in the conference."

Sunday, the Terps scored runs in both the first and second innings on wild pitches from Eagles starter Allison Gage before getting the job done themselves in the third inning.

Outfielders Niki Lau, a redshirt freshman, and Jenny Belak, a senior, led off the inning with singles before advancing on sophomore shortstop Alex Shultz's sacrifice fly. Both scored on a wild throw from Eagle second baseman Renee Ramos. Senior catcher Brittany Bessho followed with her sixth home run of the year to make the score 6-0.

Bessho would later drive in the game's final two runs on a fifth-inning single, giving her four RBIs in the game.

"[Saturday] we lost both games and finished with six hits, and then today, we outhit ourselves in one game," Bessho said. "I don't know if it's because we're relaxed more or what. I have no idea."

Terps starter Sarah Dooley (16-15) pitched her seventh shutout of the season, striking out five while walking two. Dooley again proved adept at working through jams, twice loading the bases without allowing a run.

In the first game Saturday, the Eagles used a four-run third inning to propel past the offensively inept Terps. Boston College's starter Gage threw a complete game and had a no-hitter going until freshman designated player Kerry Hickey hit a solo homer in the fifth inning.

In the second game, the Eagles hit two fourth-inning home runs to take a 3-0 lead. The Terps tacked on a single run in the fifth inning with freshman catcher Julie Lofland's sacrifice fly but got only one more hit the rest of the way.

After a weekend dogged by more of the same offensive struggles, the Terps, the seventh seed in the ACC tournament, have seemingly no chance at the postseason, barring a league championship.

"We just need to go out and play as well as we can," Bessho said. "We've always known that the best we can play, we can beat anybody. We just need to go out and do it. We just need to go out and get the job done."

It's a job the Terps have had problems finishing during a season in which they lost 11 of their last 18 games.

"Sometimes, it's about us going out and pressing; sometimes, it's about us not taking advantage of our opportunities," Watten said of her team's offensive inconsistency. "The runs come when we finally let it go, relax and play. That's when we're at our best. I think, if I had the answer, we wouldn't be having this issue."

While happy to end their regular season with an 8-0 victory, the Terps came away disappointed with their showing against Boston College - who entered the weekend as the ACC's last-place team - especially because they did so well on Sunday.

"I think we could have done that [Saturday]," Watten said. "I think the feeling is OK because we ended well, but we know we got to be better going into the conference tournament, and be consistent."

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