Roesch Crowned America East Rookie of the Year
May 6, 2009 | Softball
May 6, 2009
BOSTON - For the third consecutive season, the Boston University softball team has fielded the America East Rookie of the Year as freshman Emily Roesch was crowned the league's top newcomer on Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore April Setterlund and senior Nora Militz garnered All-Conference First Team honors, and seniors Shayne Lotito and Melissa Dubay, as well as junior Cassidi Hardy, were named to the second team. Roesch was joined by classmate Erica Casacci on the all-rookie team.
Roesch has proven to be a clutch hitter for the Terriers throughout the 2009 campaign. In the season opener at San Jose State, she picked up her first career hit and first RBI with a double to center field in the sixth inning with two outs that tied the game, 4-4, at the time. Since then she has not slowed down, hitting .286 with 40 hits, eight doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs. One of her most memorable moments of the season, came on April 5 when she smacked a two-run walk-off home run in the finale with UMBC to complete the Terriers' sweep of the Retrievers.
Despite an injury, sophomore April Setterlund has flourished in her sophomore campaign, batting an impressive .411 with six home runs and 25 RBIs. She broke a single-season school record earlier this year with 15 doubles and has hit 27 two-baggers in two seasons - only eight away from breaking the career mark. Her .411 clip is currently second all-time in single-season batting averages.
Militz is having a banner year at the plate for the Terriers, averaging a career-best .256 batting average to go along with a team-high seven home runs. She has driven in 22 runs this year, including 14 in conference games, as the team's designated hitter. Heading into the America East tournament, the Arlington Heights, Ill., native has been clutch driving in six runs over the last five games with two doubles and one home run.
On the mound this season, Hardy has been spectacular, recording three no-hitters - including one against conference foe UMBC - and 10 shutouts. She has struck out 161 batters and earned a conference-high 22 wins. Her 1.41 ERA is the second-best average in the America East this year, and in conference-only games Hardy has recorded a league-best 12 wins and 1.45 ERA. Only a junior, Hardy already owns records for career appearances (108) and is in the top 10 all-time for complete games (66), shutouts (24), innings pitched (636.0), strikeouts (535) and wins (60).
In her final season in the scarlet and white, Lotito has made the most of her time, batting a career-high .362 with 64 hits, 39 runs, five home runs and 27 RBIs. Her most impressive stat, however, is her 35 swiped bags in 2009. Having only been caught three times, she currently ranks 11th in the nation in stolen bases. She is the single-season (35) and career (93) record holder for stolen bases. In addition, she has broken the program mark for career runs (146) and at-bats (694).
Dubay has remained consistent over the last four years for the Terriers, batting over .300 for her final three seasons, including a .339 clip in 2009. This year, she has driven in a team-high 38 RBIs - sixth all-time for a single season - and she now just three away from breaking the career record, currently held by former teammate Chiya Louie ('07) at 124. In 2009, she has hit four home runs, eight doubles, while swiping an impressive 27 bases.
Joining Roesch on the all-rookie team is Casacci, a native of Plantation, Fla. She has been a valuable hitter for the Terriers advancing runners 43.2 percent of the time with seven sacrifice hits. She is hitting at a .244 clip this season with 21 hits and 17 runs.
The second-seeded Terriers will face off with No. 3 Albany on Thursday (May 7) at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the America East Softball Championships in Stony Brook, N.Y.
