Boston University
Bradley
Terriers Split on First Day of Under Armour Showcase
March 9, 2012 | Softball
March 9, 2012
Tournament Central | Watch Live (Tampa Live Sports)
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boston University softball team began the Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla., with a split of its first two games. The Terriers (6-5) dropped a 1-0 decision to Northern Iowa to begin the day before coming back and defeating Bradley, 5-3.
The Terriers only mustered two hits in their first game of the day, as the Terriers faced reigning Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Jamie Fisher. Sophomores Jayme Mask and Megan Volpano both went 1-for-3 at bat, with Volpano swinging for a double in her first appearance of the day.
Junior Whitney Tuthill was on the mound against the Panthers and pitched all seven innings. She allowed four hits and one run while striking out five batters.
The teams were locked in a stalemate for the first five innings, as both sides were shutout from scoring. The Terriers had an opportunity to score an early run in the first after Volpano doubled and Amy Ekart walked but Brittany Clendenny grounded out to second base to end the inning and leave the runners stranded.
Neither team registered another hit until the top of the fourth, when the Panthers posted a double but UNI was unable to convert its scoring opportunity, keeping the teams deadlocked at 0-0. The Panthers later posted the only run of the game in the top of the sixth.
The Terriers second and final hit of the game came from Mask in the bottom of the sixth, as she got on base with one out but two quick outs ended the inning. BU could not get anything going in its last at bat, as UNI took the 1-0 victory.
In the second game of the day, the Terriers faced former BU head coach Amy Hayes (2001-04) and the Bradley Braves, as BU prevailed, 5-3.
Five different Terriers registered at least two hits during the game, including rookie Emily Felbaum notching her first two career hits, including a double. Volpano led the squad with three hits while sophomore Chelsea O’Connor went 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run. Mask also notched two hits and a pair of RBIs.
Sophomore Holli Floetker improved to 6-2 on the mound as she pitched all seven innings for BU. The right-hander struck out a season-high nine batters while allowing eight hits on the afternoon.
Both teams scored in the opening frame of the game, as Bradley posted a run in the top of the inning and BU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. O’Connor got on base with a walk and Volpano reached via a single before Clendenny drove O’Connor in with a single to right field to knot the score at 1-1.
Bradley added two more runs in the second inning via a steal of home plate and an RBI single to put the Braves ahead, 3-1. BU retaliated with a run of its own, as Erica Cassaci, Mask and O’Connor hit consecutive singles with O’Connor driving in a run to make the game a 3-2 affair.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth inning when Felbaum smacked a double down the right field line. Melanie Delgado reached on a fielder’s choice then both runners advanced as Casacci grounded out to shortstop. Mask then stepped up to the plate and drove in Felbaum to bring the score to 3-2 in favor of Bradley.
The Terriers held the Braves scoreless the rest of the way and took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs. Felbaum posted her second hit of the game with a single before Delgado advanced her to second with a ground out to shortstop. Casacci got on base with her second single of the afternoon and moved to second on the throw while Felbaum attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate. Cassaci then claimed third on a wild pitch and Mask notched a single to drive in the run. O’Connor stepped up and drove in the second run of the inning, as she hit the ball to right field, allowing Mask to round the bases and cross home, giving the Terriers the 5-3 advantage. Bradley was unable to create any offense in the top of the seventh and BU claimed the victory.
BU returns to the field for a pair of games on Saturday for day two of the Under Armour Showcase. First, the Terriers will take on No. 23/rv Syracuse at 4:15 p.m. before facing USC Upstate, a team receiving votes in both polls, at 6:30 p.m.
