B. U. Wins Second Straight Softball Championship
May 10, 2003 | Softball
| GAME ONE BOXSCORE - Boston University 5, Albany 1 |
| GAME TWO BOXSCORE - Boston University 3, Albany 1 |
STONY BROOK, N. Y. - Boston University won two elimination games over the University at Albany, earning its second consecutive America East Softball Championship on Saturday, May 10 in Stony Brook, N.Y., claiming the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Sophomore pitcher/center fielder Julie Henneke (Odessa, Fla.) was named Most Outstanding Player. The Terriers (33-21) won the first game, 5-1, and took the second game, 3-1 to win the championship, their sixth in the program's history.
In addition to Henneke's Most Outstanding Player award, she was one of four Terriers to earn All-Championship Team honors. She was joined by sophomore shortstop Jamie Haas (Houston, Texas), sophomore first baseman/designated player Jennifer Shields (Simi Valley, Calif.), and senior second baseman Kristin Knesek (Humble, Texas). It is the third season in a row that Knesek was named to the All-Championship Team.
GAME ONE - Boston University 5, Albany 1
Albany took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Henneke issued a walk to the Great Danes' Maegan Larson to force in Katrina Dunning with the game's first run.
The Terriers jumped on Albany pitcher Andrea Lindgren in the second inning, taking a 3-1 lead. Haas had an RBI single to lead off the scoring, and Henneke followed with a two-run single. Freshman right fielder Erin McDonald (Macon, Ill.) hit a solo home run in the third inning to make the score 4-1. The homer chased Lindgren from the game. She was replaced by Kristin Couris, who pitched the final five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits.
Haas led off the fourth with a double down the left field line and later scored to make it 5-1. Haas finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Shields was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Knesek went 2-for-2.
Henneke (13-6) went the distance, giving up only three hits while striking out six and walking three.
GAME TWO - Boston University 3, Albany 1
The Terriers, facing elimination for the third straight game, broke out with three runs in the first. McDonald and Shields each had run-scoring base hits. Henneke, starting her second game of the day, held the Great Danes hitless through the first three innings. Lindgren singled to lead off the fourth inning for Albany's first hit.
It would be the seventh and final inning until Albany challenged the Terriers, scoring a run on a one-out single by Liz Wieboldt that made the score 3-1. Ali Meacham lined out to Haas for the second out, and Haas doubled up Larson to end the game.
In a steady effort in the circle, Henneke (14-6) gave up one earned run on three hits. She struck out three and walked only one. Lindgren (20-6) lasted five innings, giving up three runs on 10 hits. Four of Lindgren's six losses on the season were at the hands of the Terriers.
Shields went 1-for-2 with two RBI, tying the America East Championship record for RBI with eight. As a team, the Terriers set a championship record for home runs with five.
B. U. awaits its NCAA Regional matchup. The Terriers will find out where they go and who they play in the NCAA Championship on Sunday, May 11 at 10 p.m. on ESPNews.
