April 13, 2010
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BOSTON - Despite a grand slam from junior April Setterlund, the Boston University softball team's (20-14) rally came up short as it dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 21 Massachusetts (26-7) on Tuesday afternoon. Setterlund's four RBIs gave her sole possession of the BU single-season RBI record, which now stands at 48, and sophomore Erica Casacci had a productive afternoon with three hits in four at-bats.
The Terriers scored five runs and all came off home runs as freshman Whitney Tuthill recorded a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth and in the very next inning Setterlund unleashed her first grand slam of the season and 11th home run overall in 2010. Casacci, who went 3-for-4, scored one run.
BU managed eight hits off UMass' Sara Plourde, who currently leads the nation in strikeouts, and its five earned runs charged to the hurler were the most she has given up all season. It was also the most runs the Minutewomen have allowed in nearly a month.
Tuthill went four innings in the pitcher's circle, surrendering six runs off six hits with two strikeouts, as she falls to 6-3 on the season. Senior Cassidi Hardy came in for the final three innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts. Neither hurler walked a single batter.
The Minutewomen struck first in the top of the second with an RBI single into center field that plated one and then on the next at-bat Michelle Libby unloaded a three-run blast to center field as the visitors enjoyed a 4-0 lead after two frames.
In the fourth, UMass tacked on two more on back-to-back home runs to center field. In the bottom part of the inning, Tuthill responded as she went deep for the fourth time this season to get BU on the board with two outs.
In the fifth the Terriers loaded the bases on two walks and a Casacci single and Setterlund delivered with the grand slam to center field to bring BU to within one, 6-5, with one out in the inning. Roesch followed up with a double to center field; however, Plourde forced two pop ups to end the threat and get out of the inning.
The Minutewomen came back to add one more on a solo shot to left field by Sara Reeves to move the score to 7-5 and round out the scoring.
The Terriers host Bryant on Wednesday (April 14) at 4 p.m. at BU Softball Field.
