What’s got power, speed and poise?
The top of the Boston University softball team’s lineup answered the call this weekend, helping the Terriers to a three-game sweep of the University of Vermont at the BU Softball Field.
Freshman centerfielder April Setterlund kickstarts the Terrier offense, while junior leftfielder Shayne Lotito bats second to give BU a dynamic one-two punch.
“April is a similar batter to Shayne. They’ve pushed each other in a great way,” said BU coach Shawn Rychcik. “When the two of them get on, oh boy. Shayne understands what April can do in front of her, and April has some safety with Shayne behind her. They really have a good combination.”
Not only are both players hitting over .300 (Setterlund at .325 and Lotito at .407), but when they get on base, both have the speed to generate offense. Lotito swiped six bases this weekend, and yesterday, used her speed to tag up on a fly ball and plate BU’s first run in the bottom of the first.
“I go when [Rychcik] tells me to go,” Lotito said. “We don’t really work on steals at practice, but our trainer works with us on speed and I attribute a lot to him.”
Lotito’s contributions include both speed and plate discipline.
“Shayne was in a situation with a runner on second and they just kept working her,” Rychcik said. “After awhile, she finally hit an RBI double off the fence. She has done so much for this team.”
Rychcik is pleased with the production at the top of the order, but realizes there is more to hitting than getting hits.
“The hardest part of hitting isn’t your hits,” Rychcik said. “It’s when you struggle a little bit and have to find that ability to bounce back.”
Setterlund faced such a struggle with an up-and-down weekend. She went 3-for-4 yesterday, including an RBI double, but got on base just once (walk) in seven at-bats in Saturday’s doubleheader.
“I think it’s that I switched to hitting,” Setterlund said of her highs and lows. “My slap wasn’t working [Saturday], and so I switched to hitting [yesterday] and it worked.”
Setterlund brings versatility to the team with her ability to hit, bunt or slap at the plate.
“It’s nice from your leadoff hitter when you don’t just have a bunter or slapper who can’t drive in runs, but someone who can do it all,” Rychcik said.
But for Rychcik, Setterlund’s ability to stay calm during tough situations impresses him the most.
“I think April’s best thing isn’t her skill on the field, but how she handles adversity,” Rychcik said. “She handles the ups-and-downs of her season very well. She knows she’s batting in the leadoff spot, so there is an expectation. She’s really been able to handle the pressure.”
