Softball, Sports

Hard-y to hit against

Senior Cassidi Hardy allowed just one hit in the Boston University softball team’s 5-0 rout of Green Line rival Boston College yesterday in the Eagles’ home opener at Shea Field. Senior Nora Militz hit the game-winning home run in the top of the second inning and was 3-for-3 in the batter’s box.

Militz was not the only senior to hit big for the Terriers yesterday. Classmate Christy Leath had two RBIs on a line drive to center field in the third inning, plating sophomore April Setterlund and senior Melissa Dubay to put the Terriers up, 3-0.

‘When they gave us opportunities offensively, we took advantage of them,’ BU coach Shawn Rychcick said.

In her ninth complete game of the season, Hardy struck out eight of the 22 batters she faced and had just three walks. Hardy is now 8-3 with a 1.17 ERA, 73 strikeouts and two no-hitters.

Hardy’s success from the pitching point and the senior class’ hitting power has helped the Terriers (17-7) reach their best start in three years.

‘We’re at a pretty high level right now,’ Rychick said. ‘Last year, every other game we had a double play. I think that was third in the nation. We’re better than that right now, so you can just guess where we might be in the nation.” ‘

Defense was the key to keeping the Eagles (9-14) down and out. The Terriers never allowed their opponents past first base in seven innings and snagged their conference-high 15th double play of the season.’ ‘

‘They were just doing their job,’ Rychick said. ‘That’s what we practice for. I didn’t think we had any spectacular plays. I just though there were opportunities to get outs, and we got the outs.’

Sophomore April Setterlund got the Terriers started with a single in the first inning, but Eagle junior Taylor Peyton sent them out just as quickly, striking out Dubay and forcing two flyouts. Hardy and BU’s defense responded with a strikeout and two groundouts of their own.

Militz’ home run in the second put the Terriers ahead by one. In the bottom of the inning, Leath threw a laser from home to catch BC junior Dani Weir trying to steal second.

The Terriers capitalized on a struggling Peyton in the third inning. BU had three RBIs on three hits, all of the runs coming with one out to go in the top half of the inning. After a flyout and a groundout took care of the first two batters, Peyton walked Setterlund. Dubay hit a single to put runners on first and second. Leath stepped up to drive in both runners, putting the Terriers ahead, 3-0.

Peyton’s wild pitch allowed Leath to steal second. She then walked junior Rachel Hebert and Militz to load the bases. Freshman Emily Roesch’s single drove in Leath to make it 4-0. Peyton finally ended the inning by striking out junior Rachel Moeller.

BC’s defense picked up the slack in the fourth inning, forcing two groundouts and snagging a pop fly. BU’s defense did one better with a double play. Dubay snagged the ball out of the air and threw to first, doubling up the runner to end the inning.

After allowing five runs on five hits, five walks and four strikeouts, Peyton left the game, replaced by freshman Morgan Kidd.’ Kidd had a fairly strong showing compared to her senior counterpart, allowing one run while striking out six batters in three innings.

However, Kidd’s error in the fifth inning allowed BU’s final run of the afternoon. After trying to grab the ball off a hit from Roesch, Kidd committed her error, leaving home open for a steal by junior Rachel Herbert.

Senior Shayne Lotito nabbed her 15th stolen base of the season in the sixth inning. Lotito leads the team in stolen bases and is ranked 18th in the nation in that category.

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