May 17, 2014
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Gleason's postgame comments | NCAA Regional Central
Terriers roll past AAC champion Louisville, 8-3, in first NCAA elimination game
TUCSON, Ariz. - After eliminating Louisville, the Boston University softball team had its season ended by No. 23 LSU, 8-3, on Saturday night at Arizona's Hillenbrand Stadium in front of a primetime national audience on ESPN. One out away from a doubleheader sweep and the program's third-ever NCAA regional final appearance, the Terriers (36-21) finish tied-for-third in program history with 36 victories.
A participant in the 2012 Women's College World Series, the Tigers (37-23) lost the first game of the day to the No. 11 Wildcats, 9-8, and then watched BU claim an 8-3 win over the Cardinals. LSU and BU met for the first time in program history with the winner advancing to Sunday's regional finals.
The Terriers jumped out in front with an RBI single by Patriot League Rookie of the Year Brittany Younan in the second and then added a two-run blast off the bat of senior Brittany Clendenny for the 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth. LSU finally got on the board in the sixth with a solo shot before mounting the rally in the seventh.
With one out and a runner at first, BU misplayed a grounder that could have led to a game-ending double play and instead allowed LSU to put runners on the corners. The Tigers cut the deficit to one with an infield single, but BU then got the second out with a force at second, again putting runners at the corners.
LSU avoided the loss by taking advantage of the error with its second slow infield grounder of the inning for a RBI single. Riding the momentum shift after BU was one out away from a one-run victory, the Tigers' offense exploded with a three-run homer to grab a 6-3 advantage. They added two more off a second crushed ball and prevented any chance of a Terrier rally with three quick outs in the bottom half for the victory.
Sophomore Melanie Russell (13-5) collected the loss allowing eight runs, one earned, off 11 hits with three strikeouts and zero walks. The Patriot League All-Conference First Team honoree threw 112 pitches in the complete-game win against Louisville in near-100 degree temperatures earlier in the day and was just one out away from an upset victory over the Tigers. She finished the game throwing 104 pitches in a stellar effort for BU.
Kelsee Selman (6-2) also went over 100 pitches for LSU and gave up seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Junior Emily Felbaum helped the Terriers score first by leading off the second with a single. She advanced to third following freshman Gabi Martinez's sacrifice bunt and senior Amy Ekart's single. With two outs, Younan came through with a hit up the middle to plate Felbaum against Selman.
Clendenny pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth by homering to right center with senior Jayme Mask at second. Facing a 1-1 count, she fouled off three straight pitches before connecting for her team-high fifth homer of the season. With the pair of runs scored, Clendenny set the school record for RBIs in a season at 53.
LSU had no answer for Russell for most of the game, posting just four hits through the first five innings. However, the Tigers put a dent in her armor when Bailey Landry went deep to right center to pull within 3-1. Buoyed by BU's costly error, they used six hits in the seventh to eliminate the Terriers.
With her collegiate career over, the three-time All-Conference First Team honoree and 2014 BU Athletic Woman of the Year Jayme Mask will depart the program as the record holder for stolen bases and runs scored. She is also tied for first with April Setterlund ('11) in career hits.
Looking toward next season, second-year head coach Kathryn Gleason loses four senior starters to graduation - Clendenny, Amy Ekart, Chelsea Kehr and Mask - and returns 12 lettermen. Key returners include the PL Rookie of the Year Younan, All-PL First Team member Lauren Hynes and All-PL Second Team member Moriah Connolly. Gleason will also welcome seven newcomers, as BU prepares to begin defense of its Patriot League title.
