B. U. Softball Edges Binghamton in 12, Earns Doubleheader Sweep
April 20, 2002 | Softball
| Boxscore: Boston University 3, Binghamton 2 - 12 innings |
| Boxscore: Boston University 4, Binghamton 0 |
BOSTON - Junior pitcher Robyn Horrick (Irvine, CA) hit the game-winning double to center, scoring freshman shortstop Jamie Haas (Houston, TX) in the bottom of the 12th inning, giving the Boston University softball team a hard-fought 3-2 America East victory over Binghamton at the B. U. Softball Field on Saturday, April 20. The Terriers also won game two of the doubleheader, 4-0.
Game One - Boston University 3, Binghamton 2 - 12 innings
Binghamton (18-19, 6-8 America East) struck first, as Terrier starting pitcher Tiffany Finateri (Las Vegas, NV) ran into problems in the top of the second. The junior gave up three hits and walked in the Bearcats first run in the form of second baseman Mary Beth Yerdon.
The Terriers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, when sophomore right fielder Abbey Pauley (Spring, TX) singled in Haas and freshman center fielder Julie Henneke (Philadelphia, PA) doubled through the left side to plate Pauley.
The Bearcats evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on a mammoth home run by first baseman Kim Gruber. Binghamton threatened in the top of the 10th inning, as pinch runner Vanessa Lalley advanced to third but was unable to score on a single by pitcher Margaret Yerdon.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, Haas beat the throw from short to earn an infield single, and Horrick followed with the game-winning RBI double to give B. U. the 3-2 win.
Horrick (9-5) earned the win in relief of Finateri. Horrick pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out nine while allowing seven hits. Binghamton's Yerdon tossed a complete game, throwing over 180 pitches. She allowed 10 hits and two earned runs while striking out eight Terriers in 11 2/3 innings.
The game, nearly three-and-a-half hours in duration, was the longest game for the Terriers since a 3-1win at Delaware on April 10, 1999. The Terriers' freshman class of Haas, Henneke, left fielder DeKenya Williams (San Diego, CA), and catchers Christy King (Albuquerque, NM) and Jennifer Shields (Simi Valley, CA) went 8-for-20 with two runs scored. Haas, who leads America East in batting, went 3-for-5.
Game two - Boston University 4, Binghamton 0
In contrast to the game one marathon, the second game lasted only an hour and a half, with sophomore designated player Nichole Kurker (Medford, MA) providing the offensive punch.
In the bottom of the sixth of a scoreless game, Bearcats pitcher gave up a bases-loaded walk to Williams to post B. U. to a 1-0 lead. Kurker then blasted a two-out, bases-loaded triple down the right field line that scored three Terriers to expand the Terriers advantage to 4-0.
Binghamton put two base runners aboard in the top of the sixth thanks to fielding errors by B. U.'s Haas and junior third baseman Kate Abney (Denver, CO). Abney made up for hers with a heads-up 5-3 double play to end the Bearcat threat.
Henneke (6-3) tossed her seventh complete game, scattering four hits. Binghamton's Mary Karen Wheat also went the distance, surrendering five hits and three walks.
Boston University (20-19, 14-2 America East) climbs over the .500 mark for the first time this season. The two teams meet again tomorrow, April 21, for a doubleheader set to begin at 12 p.m.
