Softball, Sports

BU pitching staff shows strong play during weekend

After struggling all season, the Boston University softball team’s pitching staff put out its best effort to date and allowed only two runs in a three-game sweep of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

All season long, the most reliable part of BU’s pitching staff has been senior Whitney Tuthill. Until this past weekend, she was on the mound for every single one of the Terriers’ (14-20-1, 5-4 America East) non-tournament play wins, as classmate Erin Schuppert and freshman Lauren Hynes have struggled. But in the series against UMBC (8-32. 1-11 America East), Hynes was finally able to make her mark, picking up two of BU’s wins.

“For Lauren to get the win these past two days, it’s a big confidence booster for her,” said BU coach Kathryn Gleason.

Tuthill’s stellar one-hit performance in the first game of the series, an 8-0 mercy-rule victory, was more of the same, as the senior continues to shut down her opponents. With a 10-11 record and a team-leading 2.45 ERA, Tuthill has been the anchor of the Terriers’ pitching staff.

“Whitney’s been the leader, leading this team, and we finally gave her some offensive support,” Gleason said.

Despite her pitching success, Tuthill has often not gotten run support from her teammates, who have struggled all season to put runners across the plate.

However, her effort Saturday against UMBC was backed by strong at-bats from her teammates, making her dominant pitching performance shine even brighter.

Starting games has not been Tuthill’s only contribution to the Terriers this season, as her willingness and desire to pitch whenever possible has led to Gleason using her to relieve Schuppert and Hynes when they struggle to close out games. She picked up two saves this weekend, coming in to finish off the two close contests for Hynes.

“The great thing about Whitney is that you can start her or close her,” Gleason said. “Whitney does whatever you ask her to do and she’ll take on any role, and she’s happy to do either.”

After struggling on the mound all season, Hynes finally seemed to be coming into a groove over the weekend, picking up wins in the last two games of the series against UMBC.

Although Tuthill came on in the sixth and seventh innings in both games, Hynes was able to hold on to the lead when her teammates provided very little run support.

“Lauren didn’t pitch her best game [Saturday], she only gave up four hits,” Gleason said. “But they’re a powerful lineup … but you’ve got to fight through it.”

Hynes allowed one run on four hits in her first win of the weekend, a 2-1 victory Saturday afternoon.

She managed to shut out UMBC Sunday afternoon, allowing no runs and three hits in 5.2 innings pitched in a 3-1 victory. This success was enthusiastically welcomed by both Gleason and Hynes after a season of difficulties on the mound.

“Lauren just keeps getting better and better, you know, and is learning the game,” Gleason said.

Despite her struggles in the circle, Hynes has proved a valuable offensive contributor for the Terriers, playing first base and hitting second in games she is not pitching.

Hynes is the only one of BU’s pitchers who bats, and her ability to produce offensively and defensively is a sign of how valuable the freshman may be in years to come.

“Personally, being a pitcher as a hitter helps me, and being a hitter as a pitcher helps me, too,” Hynes said.

Dominant pitching was the main reason the Terriers earned a three-game sweep this weekend, something they will have to maintain if they wish to find success over the rest of the season.

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