March 31, 2014
Monday Box Scores: Game 2 (W, 6-4) | Game 3 (W, 7-4)
Tuesday Gametracker Link vs. UConn
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Winning the program's first Patriot League weekend series, the Boston University softball team recorded a doubleheader sweep at defending conference champion Army on Monday afternoon. The Terriers (16-12, 2-1 PL) first broke a 2-2 deadlock with four runs in the top of the sixth for a 6-4 win and then followed up in the rubber match with the contest's first six runs through five innings en route to a 7-4 victory.
BU lost the first game, 9-3, back on Saturday to the Black Knights (12-16, 2-3 PL) and led, 2-1, in the top of the fourth of the second game when play was halted. The teams were unable to resume action on Sunday, as the heavy rains continued to fall. The Terriers' bats came out attacking Monday with 11 runs off 12 hits through the final 11 innings of action, while sophomore pitcher Lauren Hynes (9-8) limited Army to three earned runs and six hits to collect both wins.
Senior Jayme Mask went a combined 3-of-6 with a pair of RBIs in each game while also tallying three runs scored. Reigning PL Rookie of the Week Brittany Younan led the Terriers with four hits, including two triples, and played a role in four of the day's runs.
The Terriers owned a 2-1 lead entering the fourth after junior Mandy Fernandez crushed a solo blast to right and Mask hit a RBI single to left in the second inning. The Black Knights tied the game in the fifth with Kasey McCravey plating her second run of the game off a two-out single.
BU responded in the sixth, scoring all four of its runs with two outs. With Hynes at second and senior Amy Ekart at first, the speedy freshman Moriah Connolly hit a roller toward short and induced a throwing error. Mask then hit a RBI single to the pitcher, and Younan delivered the crushing blow on a two-RBI triple to right center.
Army took advantage of three errors to cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh but did not get any closer, as Hynes recorded the final two outs on a lineout and grounder to the circle.
Mask gave BU an early lead in the first inning of the rubber match by reaching first on an error, stealing second and scoring on senior Chelsea Kehr's RBI single to left. Senior Brittany Clendenny added the second run in the third by walking, stealing second and reaching home when the shortstop made an errant throw toward first.
The Terriers extended the lead to 5-0 in the fourth with Mask playing a key role again. She tripled to right center to score Connolly and Hynes' pinch runner (junior Kendra Meadows) before reaching home herself on Younan's RBI single.
During the fifth inning, junior Emily Felbaum and Hynes hit back-to-back doubles to push the lead to 6-0. The Black Knights used a walk and triple to pull within five, but Younan came back with a triple and run scored off Clendenny's sacrifice fly.
Army tried to stage a furious rally in final inning, cutting the deficit to 7-4 with two outs on back-to-back singles. The Black Knights had the game-winning run at home plate, but Hynes got out of the bases loaded jam by forcing a ground out to third for the victory.
After 28 games on the road, the Terriers will next get the opportunity to host their home opener against Connecticut on Tuesday (April 1) at 4 p.m.
