Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - Senior April Setterlund provided an offensive spark with a home run and two RBIs, however, the Boston University softball team (27-14) came up short against in-state rival Massachusetts (23-15), 3-2, on Wednesday afternoon at UM Softball Complex.

Setterlund went 2-for-3 as she recorded her eighth homer and team-high 11th double of the season, but her efforts were not enough as the Minutewomen took advantage of an infield error in the bottom of the seventh to claim the victory.

Junior Erica Casacci was the other Terrier to connect on a hit off UMass ace Sara Plourde, who currently ranks second in the nation in strikeouts. The Terriers' defense also had an outstanding game as Setterlund and redshirt freshman Jayme Mask helped keep the Minutewomen off the bases with a handful of diving catches in the outfield.

Sophomore hurler Erin Schuppert (9-4) got the nod in the contest, striking out five batters and issuing just one walk. She gave up just three runs - two earned - on six hits. Senior Kelley Engman came in for the final inning and allowed one hit.

The Minutewomen struck first as they scored one run in the fourth on an RBI single that plated Kyllie Magill, who had reached on a double in the previous at-bat. Three innings later, Setterlund broke up Sara Plourde's no-hit bid in the fourth with a double to right center, however, she was stranded at second when Plourde got out of the frame with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth the Minutewomen extended their lead to two runs on a solo homer by Jordan Storro. However, Setterlund struck again and this time she prevented the shutout with a two-run homer in the seventh that also brought home Casacci, who had reached on a single.

In the bottom of the seventh, UMass put runners on first and third in the first two at-bats and a fielding error allowed the game-winning run to come home.

BU will next host Albany in a battle between the America East's top two teams this weekend in a three-game series. The series will open on Saturday (April 30) in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and conclude on Sunday (May 1) at noon.

NOTES: Setterlund is now five hits, five home runs and 13 walks away from breaking program career marks. She also needs six more walks to break Christy Leath's single-season record. Mask has scored 39 runs, which ranks eighth at BU for a single season.