April 28, 2012
Box Score
Box Score (Game One) | Box Score (Game Two)
BOSTON - The Boston University softball team continued its winning streak with a pair of victories over Hartford Saturday afternoon at the BU Softball Field. The Terriers defeated the Hawks, 1-0, in game one of the doubleheader before dominating Hartford, 11-1, in five innings for their second victory of the day. BU improves to 32-13 on the season and 10-3 in conference play.
The first game was a low scoring affair, as the Terriers posted the only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Whitney Tuthill picked up her first victory of the day by pitching the complete game shutout. She allowed just two hits while striking out six batters.
Sophomore Amy Ekart posted BU’s only hit of the game while classmate Chelsea O’Connor scored the Terriers lone run.
Both teams had quick 1-2-3 frames to start the game before Hartford stranded two batters in the top of the second. BU started the bottom of the second with a walk for O’Connor before a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Kehr advanced the runner to second. Emily Roesch moved O’Connor to third with a ground out to the pitcher before Ekart got on base by a walk. The Terriers then executed a double steal with O’Connor crossing home to give BU a 1-0 lead.
Offense was hard to come by for both teams but Hartford threatened to extend the game in the top of the seventh. Jordan Haines led off with a double to left field and then advanced to third on a ground out by Jackie Kelly. The next two batters walked to load the bases with one out. Devynne Butler reached base with a fielder’s choice, as the Terriers made the play at home plate to preserve their lead. A final ground out by Peyton Fisher secured BU’s 1-0 victory.
BU’s bats came alive in the second game as the Terriers defeated the Hawks, 11-1, in five innings by the mercy rule. Tuthill pitched the first four innings, as she struck out five and allowed four hits. Junior Erin Schuppert pitched the fifth inning in relief.
Sophomore Brittany Clendenny provided the highlight of the game with a grand slam in the second inning while O’Connor and Roesch each registered two hits in the contest. Hartford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after a pair of errors by the Terriers allowed the Hawks to get a runner in scoring position. Shannon Simpkins and Kate Wacyk hit back-to-back singles with Wacyk driving in the Hawks’ lone run of the game.
BU took the lead with an eight-run output in the bottom of the second. O’Connor got it started with a single then stole second before Kehr walked. Alyssa Barsanti stepped in to pinch run for Kehr and Ekart used a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Roesch then drove a ball to right field for an RBI single before the Terriers executed their second double steal of the day with Barsanti swiping home.
Melanie Delgado singled to center field to drive in another run. Jayme Mask got on base with a single through the right side and Erica Casacci loaded the bases by reaching on a fielder’s choice. The Hawks walked Megan Volpano which allowed Delgado to score. Then, Clendenny stepped up and drilled a grand slam down the right field line to tack on four more runs for the Terriers and give BU an 8-1 lead after two innings.
Hartford had an opportunity to score in the top of the fourth with Haines leading off with her second double of the day. Melani Maxwell got on base by an error and Erica Phelps grounded out to advance both runners. Butler accounted for the final out of the inning and stranded the runners on base.
BU added to its lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Mask was hit by a pitch and then stole second before Casacci moved her to third with a ground out. Volpano brought Mask home and got on base with a fielder’s choice. After Clendenny walked, O’Connor singled down the right field line while Volpano rounded third and scored. Kehr took first on an error to load the bases before Mandy Fernandez stepped in to pinch hit. The rookie was out on a fielder’s choice but Clendenny managed to score to give BU an 11-1 lead after four innings.
The Hawks were unable to cut into the Terriers lead in the top of the fifth, allowing BU to claim the 11-1 victory in five innings due to the mercy rule.
BU and Hartford conclude the three games series on Sunday, April 29, at 12 p.m. The Terriers will honor their three seniors in a pregame ceremony.
