April 24, 2014
Highlights | Box Score | Coach Gleason's postgame comments
BOSTON - Highlighted by freshman Brittany Younan's two-RBI single and sophomore Lauren Hynes' stellar pitching performance, the Boston University softball team earned a 2-1 home victory against Harvard on Thursday afternoon.
Extending their win streak to seven games, the Terriers improve to 26-18, while the Ivy League leader Crimson (27-12) suffers its first loss since March 21 and sees its win streak snapped at 18 games.
Hynes (14-13) went six innings in the circle for BU and limited Harvard to one hit while tallying two strikeouts against two walks. Sophomore Melanie Russell pitched the final inning for her second save of the season and allowed one run off a solo homer that nailed the left field foul pole with one out.
Reigning Ivy League Pitcher of the Week Laura Ricciardone pitched four scoreless innings with four hits allowed and three strikeouts for Harvard. Taylor Cabe made a relief appearance to start the fifth and earned the loss, as BU scored two runs off two hits.
Senior Amy Ekart led off the fifth with a single, and pinch runner Kendra Meadows took second on a stolen base. Freshman Moriah Connolly then drew a walk, and following a pop up, was part of a double steal with Meadows to put two runners in scoring position. Younan came to the plate and with a 1-2 count delivered a hard-hit single to right to plate both Meadows and Connolly.
BU finished with six hits but would not need any more runs, as the pitching staff and defense took care of business against a Harvard squad that entered the contest averaging 5.7 runs during the lengthy win streak.
Senior Jayme Mask made an impressive diving catch in right to keep a runner at second, and junior Mandy Fernandez played a line drive fly ball perfectly in the gusty wind to leave a runner at first in the sixth. The infield featuring Younan, senior Brittany Clendenny, junior Emily Felbaum and senior Chelsea Kehr was also strong with error-free defense.
The Terriers will next resume the Patriot League schedule and six-game homestand against Lafayette on Saturday (April 26). The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m.
