Terriers Eliminated From NCAA Tournament by Penn State, 5-1
May 17, 2002 | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - The Boston University softball season ended in the NCAA Championship on Thursday evening with a 5-1 loss to Penn State in an elimination game at Minnesota's Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Terriers, making their first NCAA appearance in five years, finish their season with a 28-23 overall record.
B. U. advanced runners to third base in both the second and third innings, but failed to drive them in. Penn State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Jennifer Tripken hit a two-RBI single up the middle.
The Nittany Lions added to their lead in the fifth. Freshman pitcher Julie Henneke (Philadelphia, PA) walked the leadoff batter and gave up an infield single to the first two batters. PSU first baseman Erin Norton then singled up the middle off of the shoe of to load the bases with one out. Left fielder Megan Humphrey hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring shortstop Mandy Nuxoll to put the Nittany Lions up 3-0. The next batter, designated player Jackie Dabrowski, singled to right to score Norton and Tripken to make the score 5-0.
In the top of the seventh, senior first baseman Aryn Rangel (Greeley, CO), in what would be her last collegiate at bat, singled through the left side to lead off the inning. Sophomore designated player Nichole Kurker (Medfield, MA) grounded into a fielder's choice and was pinch run for by junior third baseman Kate Abney (Denver, CO).
Junior left fielder Tiffany Finateri (Las Vegas, NV) followed with a single and took second on the throw as Abney advanced to third. Freshman right fielder DeKenya Williams (San Diego, CA) then walked to load the bases with one out.
Freshman catcher Jennifer Shields (Simi Valley, CA) added to the comeback attempt with a single to short, but Finateri, running from second, was called out for interference, negating a scoring chance. Junior second baseman Kristin Knesek (Humble, TX) kept the inning alive with an RBI single, scoring Abney from third to pull the Terriers to within four runs at 5-1. Freshman shortstop Jamie Haas (Houston, TX) grounded out to short to end the threat and the Terriers' season.
Henneke (9-5) took the loss, giving up five earned runs on 10 hits. She struck out five batters while walking only one. The Nittany Lion's Shana Riggleman (5-4) got the complete-game win, giving up five hits - four in the final inning. She only struck out one batter while walking two.
Penn State advances in the loser's bracket to play Princeton on Friday afternoon. Princeton was a 2-1 loser to host Minnesota on Thursday afternoon.
The Terriers wrap up a season which saw them win their second straight America East regular season title, and their first conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons.
