As snow piles up along Commonwealth Avenue, it sure doesn’t feel like opening day outside.
But the Boston University softball team said ‘Play ball’ this weekend, opening its season at the University of North Carolina Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C. Unfortunately, the heavy rain and bad conditions were indicative of the success the Terriers had in the event, as their early record dropped to 0-3.
The Terriers first took the field at noon on Friday to do battle with the Fighting Camels of Campbell University. Despite holding leads of 1-0, 3-1 and 5-4, the Boston University nine fell in eight innings, 6-5.
Senior leftfielder Tiffany Finateri provided heroics with a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the seventh, but the Terriers couldn’t make it stand up, as Campbell evened the score in the bottom of the inning before a pair of hits in the eighth won it for the Fighting Camels.
Finateri’s homer was part of a 2-3, 2 RBI-day. Sophomore shortstop Jamie Haas also had a big day, going 3-4 at the plate while knocking in a pair of runs. Senior pitcher Robyn Horrick took the loss for BU, allowing five earned runs on nine hits.
Without any time to think about the loss, the Terriers were back on the field at four Friday afternoon, to face No. 30 Virginia Tech University. The Hokies came out swinging, taking a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 decision over BU.
Haas again had a solid game with the bat, going 2-3 and scoring the Terriers’ first run. Sophomore pitcher Julie Henneke drove in Haas as part of her 2-4 performance, but also fell to 0-1, giving up eight earned runs on nine hits, in addition to 10 walks.
The team had a chance to redeem itself on Saturday morning before rain washed out the remainder of the tournament, but was unable to cash in against the University of Virginia. Again, BU was unable to hold leads, this time grabbing a pair of three-run advantages at 4-1 and 7-4, before falling, 10-9.
Freshman pitcher Erin McDonald’s two-run single in the bottom of the sixth swelled the BU lead to 7-4, but Virginia put up six runs in the seventh to take a 10-7 lead. That was a lead that would not be relinquished, despite a valiant Terrier comeback attempt in the bottom of the last inning. BU loaded the bases, and sophomore catcher Christy King’s RBI single sliced the Cavalier lead down to one, but the Boston crew couldn’t push across the equalizer, and they were forced to return home empty-handed.
Finateri started the game, but was relieved by McDonald in the fifth. The freshman took the loss in her college debut despite allowing just one earned run, but also starred at the plate, going 2-5 with an RBI. Freshman third baseman Josey Mendez reached base four times, going 1-2 with three walks. King also had a good day at the plate, getting two hits in three at bats to go with her RBI.
