Terriers Run Shutout Streak To Six Games With Maine Blanking
April 23, 2003 | Softball
| GAME 1 Boxscore - Boston University 2, Maine 0 |
| GAME 2 Boxscore - Boston University 3, Maine 0 |
BOSTON - The Boston University softball team recorded two shutout wins over the visiting University of Maine on Wednesday, April 23, in the process running its consecutive shutout streak to six games. The Terriers won game one, 2-0, before blanking the Black Bears, 3-0, in game two.
B. U. (21-16, 11-1 America East) has won 12 straight games, and 18 of its last 20. Maine (16-18, 5-7 America East) has now been shutout by the Terriers in each of its four meetings with B. U. The Terriers rang up 1-0 and 12-0 wins at Maine on April 10.
GAME 1 - Boston University 2, Maine 0
The Terriers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and the lead held up, as starting sophomore pitcher Julie Henneke (Odessa, Fla.) (8-5) held the Black Bears to only one hit while striking out five. She did not allow a walk.
Sophomore shortstop Jamie Haas (Houston, Texas) led off the Terriers' first inning with a walk, and junior center fielder Abbey Pauley (Spring, Texas) followed with a single. The pair advanced one base on a wild pitch by Maine's Jenna Merchant. Merchant then loaded the bases by allowing a free pass to Henneke, and then hit sophomore first baseman Jennifer Shields (Simi Valley, Calif.) to force in a run and give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Merchant then gave the Terriers another run, walking sophomore designated player DeKenya Williams to force in B. U.'s second run. Maine ended the inning with one of two inning-ending double plays, however.
The Black Bears' third baseman Lauren Dulkis had the visitors' only hit, a single through the right side to lead off the third inning. Henneke was the only player to record multiple hits, going 2-for-2. Merchant (8-9) struck out six and walked five. She allowed two runs on five hits.
GAME 2 - Boston University 3, Maine 0
Senior second baseman Kristin Knesek (Humble, Texas) gave the Terriers a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run to left center. It was her second homer of the season. B. U. doubled its lead in the fourth frame, after Knesek hit a triple to right center and freshman third baseman Josey Mendez (Miami, Fla.) brought her in with a single to center to make the score 2-0.
B. U. scored its final run in the sixth on an error by Maine shortstop Brittany Cheney that allowed freshman pinch runner Tara Hodge (Los Gatos, Calif.) to score from second base.
Knesek went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI. Mendez was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Terriers.
Freshman pitcher Erin McDonald (Macon, Ill.) won her eighth straight start, improving her record to 8-6. She had a steady effort, scattering eight hits while striking out three and walking one. Maine's Sarah Bennis (7-8) gave up two earned runs and seven hits. She struck out two and walked two in the loss.
The Terriers face the Boston College Eagles for a single game on Thursday, April 24. Game time at the B. U. Softball Field is 3:30 p.m.
