Softball Terriers Claim Fifth America East Championship
May 11, 2002 | Softball
Burlington, Vt. - The top-seeded Boston University softball team won its fifth America East championship in 11 years with a 1-0 victory over No. 2 Hartford on Saturday afternoon at Vermont's Post Field, in the process earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Junior pitcher Robyn Horrick (Irvine, CA) struck out 10 Hartford batters, allowed only three hits, and did not issue a walk for her 15th complete game in 17 starts. She was named the championship's Most Outstanding Player for her efforts.
The Terriers scored the games only run in the first inning. Freshman shortstop and conference Player of the Year Jamie Haas (Houston, TX) opened the bottom of the inning with a triple to center and scored on a wild pitch by the Hawk's Andi Miller.
Hartford (24-15-1) threatened to tie the score when right fielder Monica Evrard tripled to right center field to open the top of the fifth inning. Horrick, though, promptly struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam.
In the top of the seventh, Hartford brought the potential game winning run to the plate after B. U. left fielder Tiffany Finateri (Las Vegas, NV) couldn't catch up to a shallow pop, but catcher Amy Sullivan struck out looking to end the game and give the Terriers their fifth title in five years.
Horrick, the league's Pitcher of the Year, was joined on the All-Championship Team the top three batters in the Terriers' order - Haas, sophomore outfielder Abbey Pauley (Spring, TX) and freshman center fielder/pitcher and conference Rookie of the Year Julie Henneke (Philadelphia, PA). The trio went 14-for-27 in the three games and scored six of the team's seven runs in the championship.
Overall, Horrick (13-6) pitched 17 innings in the championship and did not allow a run. She struck out 27 batters and allowed only three hits and three walks.
The Terriers (28-21), who were America East champions in 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1997, made their only appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1996, going 2-2 at a regional in Storrs, CT. The NCAA destination of the Terriers will be determined during the softball selection show on Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m.
