Terriers Clinch Tourney Spot Behind Freeman's Four-Hit Shutout
May 2, 2004 | Softball
BOSTON - Boston University freshman pitcher Ashlee Freeman (Northridge, Calif.) once again proved to be the difference, pitching a four-hit shutout of the University of Hartford in America East softball action on Sunday, May 2, helping the Terriers clinch a spot in the 2004 America East Softball Championship, held on May 13-15 in Orono, Maine.
B.U.'s win, combined with the University at Albany's 3-0 home win over Binghamton University, allowed the Terriers to claim at least the fourth seed in the four-team conference championship. The Terriers end their regular-season with a three-game series at Albany on May 8-9.
It was "Abbey Day" at the B.U. Softball Field, as the Terriers honored their lone senior, Abbey Pauley, in a pre-game ceremony.
B.U. closed out its home schedule with an overall record of 22-29, improving to 10-6 in America East play. Hartford fell to 11-20, 7-9.
Hartford's Michelle Mariano singled to start the game, but it was not a sign of things to come for the Hawks, as Freeman (15-13) allowed only three more hits in the game and set the side down in order in the final two innings. She finished with six strikeouts compared to only one walk.
B.U. got the only run it would need in the bottom of the second, when freshman right fielder Brittany Detwiler (Souderton, Pa.) doubled down the right field line to score freshman second baseman Chiya Louie (Seattle, Wash.) from second.
The Terriers added two more in the third, as Louie, with runners already on second and third, was intentionally walked by Hartford's Jamie Graves to load the bases. Sophomore designated player Erin McDonald (Macon, Ill.) would then single up the middle to score two runs and push the Terrier lead to 3-0.
Mariano would get her second hit of the game with one out in the fifth, a single that represented the last Hawks' base runner of the day.
Detwiler and junior shortstop Jamie Haas (Houston, Texas) each went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Terriers.
B.U. closes out its regular-season schedule with a three-game series at the University at Albany on May 8-9.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | R | H | E | |
| Hartford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Boston University | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Win: Freeman (15-13) | | ||||||||||
| Loss: Jamie Graves (4-9) | |
