Game 1 - Boston University 5, Maine 2
Game 2 - Boston University 11, Maine 5
BOSTON - Senior catcher Jenny Shields (Simi Valley, Calif.) had a three-run single in the bottom of the first inning, and added a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, as the Terrier softball team completed a doubleheader sweep over America East rival Maine with an 11-6 victory. The Terriers defeated the Black Bears 5-2 in game one.
With the pair of victories, the Terriers (20-16-1, 9-4 America East) moved into sole possession of second place in the conference. Maine falls to 13-22, 7-6 in America East. Albany currently leads the conference with an 11-2 record.
It was the 10th win in a row for the Terriers, who reached the 20-win plateau for the 15th consecutive season.
With the Terriers up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning in game two, Shields lined a bases-loaded single to right field that was bobbled by Dana Grimm allowing three runners to score. Christy King (Albuquerque, N.M.) followed with a single to drive in Shields to give B.U. a 5-0 lead after one.
The Black Bears fought back with five runs of their own in the top of the third, but the Terriers quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly from Josey Mendez (Miami, Fla.) and an RBI single from Jamie Haas (Houston, Tex.) to regain the lead, 7-5.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when B.U. broke the game open with four runs, highlighted by Shields' two-run blast to left-center, which closed out the scoring. It was her third home run of the season.
Shields finished the game 3-for-3 with five RBI. Junior first baseman Liz Alley (Aurora, Colo.) was also 3-for-3, including a two-run double and three runs scored.
Freshman Jenna Grapensteter (Bothell, Wash.), who came on to relieve starter Brittany Detwiler (Souderton, Penn.) in the third inning, picked up the win, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings. She improved to 5-1 on the season. Grapensteter entered the game with one out and the bases loaded, and after surrendering singles to the first two batters she faced, settled down and got out of the inning with the score knotted at 5-5.
Jenna Merchant, who took over for starter Alexis Pullen after the first inning, took the loss for Maine.
In the first game, sophomore pitcher Ashlee Freeman (Northridge, Calif.) went the distance, allowing two runs on only three hits while walking one and striking out seven as the Terriers eclipsed a 2-1 deficit in the fifth en route to a 5-2 win.
With one out in the fifth, Brandi Shields (Schererville, Ind.) singled home Tyler Benson (Tucson, Ariz.) and Haas to give B.U. the lead for good at 3-2. DeKenya Williams (San Diego, Calif.), who had two RBI in the game, doubled over centerfielder Jess Brady's head to score Shields to make it 4-2. B.U. closed out the scoring with two outs in the sixth when Benson singled home Molly Gallagher (Reading, Mass.), who came in to run after King's one-out single.
The Terriers next face conference foe Stony Brook in a double-header on Saturday, April 30 at the Boston University Softball Field. Game time is 1 p.m.
