April 27, 2013
Box Scores: Game 1 (W, 2-0) | Game 2 (W, 9-5)
Coach Gleason's Postgame Comments
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BOSTON - Kicking off its final home weekend series of the season, the Boston University softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Maine with scores of 2-0 and 9-5 on Saturday afternoon at the BU Softball Field. Snapping a three-game losing streak, the Terriers improve to 19-23-1 and 7-6 in the America East.
Both of BU's pitchers went the distance with freshman Lauren Hynes (4-6) picking up her first career shutout victory in the first game. She held the Black Bears (7-36, 3-11 AE) to six hits while fanning five batters without allowing a single walk. After two scoreless innings, Maine tallied five runs in the second contest against senior Erin Schuppert (2-5), but she quickly settled back down and finished with four strikeouts against one walk in the complete-game victory.
The Terriers' offense tallied a combined 15 hits with juniors Jayme Mask, Brittany Clendenny and Chelsea Kehr contributing three apiece. Recording two stolen bases to move within three of the program's season record of 37 swiped bags held by Shayne Lotito ('09), Mask also scored a run in each contest. Kehr and Clendenny tallied three RBIs in the second game to help BU overcome a 5-3 deficit after junior Megan Volpano and freshman Haley King plated the Terriers' lone two runs in the first meeting between the two squads.
Maine tried to get on the board against Hynes in the first inning by loading the bases with just one out after two hits and a defensive error. However, Hynes got the fly out to center and a routine grounder to second.
Mask then led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hynes. Volpano followed with a single to right to bring Mask home. The Terriers added an insurance run in the second. Kehr doubled to right, and sophomore pinch runner Kendra Meadows later scored on an infield grounder by King.
The Black Bears hit back-to-back singles in the sixth with one out but were unable to reach home, as Hynes forced two infield grounders to get out of the jam. She quickly recorded three outs in the seventh for her sixth complete game of the season.
After being held to five hits by Beth Spoehr (4-9) in the first game, BU tallied 10 in the second. Mask led off again with a single and stole second. After Volpano and Hynes walked to load the bases, she scored on a passed ball. Junior Amy Ekart and Kehr follwed with an RBI grounder and single, respectively, to give the Terriers an early 3-0 lead.
Maine responded with five runs in the top of the third, highlighted by Jean Stevens' grand slam down the right field line that was fair by the slimmest of margins. BU cut the two-run deficit to one in the bottom of the inning with Ekart reaching home on Clendenny's single through the left side.
The Terriers took the lead for good in the fourth with three runs off three hits. Facing two outs with the bases loaded, Kehr singled up the middle to plate Ekart and Volpano. Senior Emily Roesch added the third run when she scored on a wild pitch from third.
Schuppert kept the Black Bears at bay, leaving two runners in scoring position with a strikeout in the top of the sixth inning. She received more run support in the bottom of the inning with Clendenny driving home pinch runner Meadows and Roesch with a double to right.
The Black Bears were quickly retired in the seventh, as Schuppert recorded her third complete game performance of the season.
BU will return to action on Sunday (April 27) in the final home game of the regular season against Maine with first pitch set for 12 p.m. Prior to the start of the contest, the Terriers will recognize their three seniors, Emily Roesch, Erin Schuppert and Whitney Tuthill.
