Softball, Sports

Weather pushes back final 2 games of softball series

Playing in its first Patriot League series of the year, the Boston University softball team could not beat the weather, as the final two games of its series against the U.S. Military Academy were postponed until Monday. In the first game of the set, BU fell by a score of 9-3.

“We’ve actually played in bad weather all year,” said BU coach Kathryn Gleason. “From South Carolina to Santa Clara we’ve been dealing with the weather. [The team is] used to that. They’re softball players so this is something we deal with all the time.  Our strategy just stays the same.”

In their first conference game Saturday morning, the Terriers (14-12, 0-1 Patriot League) could not get the offense and pitching they needed to come out victorious.

The Black Knights (12-15, 2-2 Patriot League) sent one of their best pitchers to the mound in freshman Caroline Smith. The freshman has had a strong first season, pitching 73 innings while holding an ERA of 3.26, good for second on the team. Smith continued her strong ways and ended up tossing a complete game, only allowing five hits.  Her win increased her season total to eight and also brought her complete-game total up to a team-high six.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Hynes could not contain the Black Knights in her 2.1 innings of work, allowing six earned runs.

Hynes was replaced in the bottom of the third after freshman Tyler McKinney laid down a successful bunt single to advance two base runners.

After Hynes was taken out, her replacement, freshman pitcher Makinna Akers, ran into trouble in the same inning. She allowed three additional runs to score, which were charged to Hynes’ total.

“They’re a very disciplined team,” Gleason said.  “They’re disciplined yet aggressive and very solid defensively.  They’re a really solid team.”

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Army continued the attack when senior April Ortenzo hit a two-run home run, her first of the season.

In the loss, senior catcher Amy Ekart continued her stretch of impressive play with a two-RBI single.  The only other BU run came on an error by Army right fielder Rachel Dehlinger on a fly ball hit by junior second baseman Emily Felbaum that allowed senior shortstop Brittany Clendenny to score.

In the second game of the doubleheader BU looked to right the ship, and took a 2-1 lead into the fourth inning. However, play was halted in the fourth inning of the game due to heavy sustained rain

Prior to the weather getting in the way of things, junior outfielder Mandy Fernandez led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run, her third of the year.  The home run added to the impressive season Fernandez is having.

Her .316 average is a huge difference over her past career-high average of .211. She also already has more runs scored, hits and doubles than she had in any other previous season.

“Mandy’s been great for us all year but its been a team effort,” Gleason said.  “We just got to keep our energy and confidence up and the teams done a tremendous job with that all season.”

BU’s other run came on a two-out RBI single from senior outfielder Jayme Mask.  The senior has continued to thrive with two-out and is hitting .476 with five RBI in that situation.

The makeup games Monday coupled with the team’s first home game on Tuesday will test the Terriers’ stamina, something that Gleason is optimistic the team can handle.

“This is why we play,” Gleason said.  “We prepare from September on for this part of the season and we’ll be ready for it.  We know it’s not going to be easy and that we’re going to be playing every other day, but that’s why we’re here.

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