The Boston University softball team won two-of-three in this weekend’s home series against the University of Hartford, marking the Terriers’ first loss of the season at BU Softball Field.
Led by junior Cassidi Hardy, BU (23-13, 9-2 America East) won Saturday’s series opener, 1-0, which marked the third one-hitter in her last four starts. But just as Hardy didn’t allow the Hawks (15-11, 4-7) to generate offense, Hartford sophomore Brittney Stratton yielded only four Terrier hits in the second half of the doubleheader.
BU’s lone run came in the bottom of the fifth, when senior Tyler Benson singled to left, plating sophomore Rachel Moeller.
Despite dropping a 4-1 decision, BU started Saturday’s second game on a high note. Freshman April Setterlund started the game with a double, followed by an RBI ground out by junior Shayne Lotito to give the Terriers the lead. Stratton, though, didn’t allow BU to generate offense for the rest of the game, and Hartford plated four runs by the end of the fifth inning.
The Terriers had the opportunity to make a comeback in the top of the fifth, as Benson and freshman Melanie Delgado were on second and third, respectively, with two outs. After working the to a full count, Setterlund grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
“The difference between [the first and second games] was that we just didn’t capitalize on the hits we had,” said BU coach Shawn Rychcik. “They were able to get runners on and move them over. We just weren’t able to do that other than in the first inning.”
Defensively, the Terriers couldn’t stop the Hawks. After starter Megan Currier allowed three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings, Rychcik summoned freshman Kelley Engman, who yielded one run on three hits.
“Megan had three runs on the board and I just thought it was time to make a move,” Rychcik said.
After her impressive showing in the series opener, Hardy started yesterday’s 3-2 win hoping for a repeat performance. But this wouldn’t be the case, as Hardy walked three batters in the third – one of which brought in a run – and allowed two doubles in the fourth. After the second of these doubles gave Hartford a 2-1 lead, Engman came on in relief and allowed four hits over the final 3.1 innings.
The Terriers opened yesterday’s game on a high note offensively. Setterlund singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lotito. The leadoff hitter later scored on a double to center field by junior Christy Leath. Stratton, in her third straight start of the weekend, made a costly error on the next play that plated Leath, giving BU a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The winning run came in the bottom of the fifth on a home run by sophomore Rachel Hebert.
The Hawks had an opportunity to propel the game into extra innings with runners on first and third and two out in the top of the seventh.
“It is really nerve-racking when people get on base and you have one in scoring position,” Engman said. “But I just try to keep my composure. I know I have a good defense behind me, so if they do get the bat on the ball, it’s probably going to be an out.”
Engman kept her composure, recording her third and final strikeout of the day.
“[That last strikeout] was a huge weight off my shoulders, because I pretty much carry the wins and the losses on my back. If we had ended up losing that game, it would have been a heartbreaker,” Engman said.
“It was a big way to finish the game,” Rychcik said. “An awesome effort from [Engman].”
