For the second straight day, the Boston University softball team lost to a beatable team in disappointing fashion, dropping a 1-0 pitchers’ duel to Harvard University yesterday at Soldiers Field.
It was BU’s pitching that came up short in Wednesday’s 13-9 loss against the University of Maine, a game in which the Terriers (26-17) surrendered nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Kelley Engman was charged with six runs in the frame without recording an out against the Black Bears, but BU coach Shawn Rychcik didn’t allow her to dwell on it for long, starting Engman yesterday against the Crimson (22-18). The rookie responded well, allowing one run on six hits in a complete game effort.
“Kelley pitched good enough to win,” Rychcik said. “She got out of a couple jams with good pitches, but our offense just didn’t give her any support.”
Engman pitched herself out of tight spots in both the third and fourth, stranding two runners in each inning.
In the third, sophomore Stephanie Krysiak and junior Bailey Vertovez belted back-to-back singles and advanced to third and second base, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Emily Henderson.
Freshman Ellen Macadam followed by hitting a ground ball to second, and BU freshman Melanie Delgado came home with the throw to nail Krysiak at the plate. Engman got sophomore Lauren Murphy to ground out to first to end the inning.
With two outs in the fourth, Engman walked junior Hayley Bock and hit senior Danielle Kerper with a pitch, but got pinch-hitter Caitlin Bowers to ground out to first to end the frame.
The Crimson broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Vertovez singled to left to start the inning and Henderson reached on a fielder’s choice. With one out, Murphy squeaked an RBI single through the left side that plated Vertovez to make it 1-0. Engman struck out the next two batters to prevent further damage.
“We were hoping for a ground ball with Murphy at the plate,” Rychcik said. “We had our defense in a position where we thought we could get a double play, but she managed to get one through the infield.”
Offensively, the Terriers managed three hits in four innings against Harvard ace Shelly Madick and one hit in three innings against reliever Dana Roberts. BU had a chance to strike first, as freshman centerfielder April Setterlund led off the game with a single to left and advanced to second on a groundout by junior leftfielder Shayne Lotito.
Madick made sure Setterlund did not advance getting junior shortstop Melissa Dubay to pop out to first and sophomore first baseman Rachel Hebert to look at a called third strike.
BU’s best scoring chance came in the fifth. Delgado lined a double into the right-centerfield gap to start the inning, and senior designated hitter Tyler Benson followed by reaching on an error. Roberts was then called on to relieve Madick.
Setterlund moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, but Lotito lined out to short and Dubay grounded out to second, stranding both runners in scoring position.
“I thought about calling a squeeze [with Lotito at the plate],” Rychcik said. “But she’s a good hitter and then she got behind in the count. She swung through a changeup on the first pitch and then there was a questionable call for strike two, so that eliminated the possibility of a squeeze play.”
The Terriers had two on with two outs in the sixth, but Delgado lined out to first. Roberts sat down Benson, Setterlund and Lotito 1-2-3 in the seventh to secure Harvard’s victory.