Softball Earns Doubleheader Split with Maine
April 12, 2006 | Softball
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
BOSTON – Cassidi Hardy did not allow an earned run and tossed a complete game four-hitter to help the Boston University softball team earn a split of a doubleheader against Maine Wednesday afternoon. The Terriers won the first game 2-1 before dropping the nightcap 4-2 at the BU Softball Field. BU is now 19-18 on the season, 5-3 in America East play. Maine is 24-13, 6-2.
Hardy was masterful in game one, scattering three hits in shutting out the Black Bears through six innings. She worked her way out of trouble throughout, as Maine left a runner at third base in the first inning and at second base in the third, fifth and sixth frames.
Meanwhile, BU could not break through against Maine starter Jenna Balent. The Terriers had baserunners in each of the first four innings but failed to score, as the game entered the bottom of the fifth in a 0-0 deadlock.
Brooke Hudson led off the fifth with a single and advanced to second on Shayne Lotito’s sacrifice bunt. After a Tyler Benson groundout, Christy Leath lofted a sinking fly ball to left field. Black Bear left fielder Molly McKinney had a beat on the ball but dropped it at the last minute for an error, as Hudson raced home with the first run of the game. Brandi Shields followed with an RBI single up the middle scoring Leath, and the Terriers led 2-0.
Maine threatened in the seventh, scoring an unearned run on a Shields’ error to cut the Terrier lead to 2-1. However, Hardy was able to get Brittany Cheney to foul out and McKinney to strike out to end the game and preserve the victory.
Hardy improved to 10-8 on the season. She allowed one unearned run and struck out five. Balent (9-9) suffered the loss, allowing two unearned runs, while fanning two.
In game two, junior Brittany Detwiler returned from an ankle injury which had sidelined her for three weeks to start on the mound for the Terriers. Maine took advantage of Detwiler’s rustiness, plating two runs in the first on an Ashley Waters’ triple and Amy Kuhl’s successful suicide squeeze bunt, to give the Black Bears a 2-0 lead.
Maine doubled the advantage with a pair of unearned runs in the second inning. A Shields’ error keyed the rally, as Megan Ramos singled home a pair of runs to give Maine a 4-0 advantage.
BU rallied with a pair of runs in the sixth to get back into the game. Leath led off with a single and scored on Josey Mendez’s RBI double. Mendez came around to score on Melissa Dubay’s double to cut the deficit to 4-2. BU was unable to get any closer, however, as Black Bear starter Sarah Bennis shut the door the rest of the way.
Detwiler (8-7) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs in 2.0 IP. Bennis (14-4) went the distance, allowing two runs on six hits and fanning four. Lotito led the Terrier offense, going 3-4 in the game.
The Terriers return to action Friday when they face UMBC in Catonsville, Md. The teams will play a doubleheader on April 14 at 2 p.m., and a single game on April 15 at 11 a.m.
