Any possibility of the Boston University softball team’s fourth extra-inning loss of the young season ended up beyond the right field fence.
Freshman first baseman Liz Alley made sure it would be that way, lining a ninth-inning offering from Fairfield University pitcher Melissa Santos over the fence for what would stand up as the game-winning solo shot, vaulting the Terriers (4-14) to a 3-2 victory Wednesday in Fairfield, Conn.
‘As soon as it hit the bat, I knew it was gone,’ Alley said. ‘I had no doubt that we’d be able to hold on [in the bottom of the ninth].’
The Stags (12-10) did not fail to mount a threat in the bottom of the inning, however, putting aboard a pair of baserunners before senior hurler Tiffany Finateri closed the door on the Fairfield attack. The stingy BU pitching was a trend all day long; Finateri pitched the last three and a third innings to combine with freshman pitcher Erin McDonald on a masterpiece, together surrendering no earned runs and nine hits to gain the win.
‘I don’t even know if words can describe how well our pitchers are throwing the ball,’ Alley praised. ‘We’re excited to play out there behind them.’
Despite the solid performance of Finateri and McDonald, the BU bats still needed to figure out Fairfield’s tandem of Santos and starter Tara Hansen before escaping with the victory. Sophomore centerfielder Julie Henneke and classmate and shortstop Jamie Haas each added an RBI hit. But it still took the Terriers two extra frames to finish off the Stags.
Fairfield used a walk, an error and a hit to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but failed to plate another run. The Terriers clawed back, scratching out a run in the third on junior rightfielder Abbey Pauley’s triple and Henneke’s run-scoring single. Haas forced extra innings with her RBI triple in the sixth, scoring senior second baseman Kristin Knesek, who had doubled. Alley’s heroics gave BU its only lead of the game, and proved to be the difference.
‘I wasn’t looking to end it,’ Alley added. ‘I just was trying to get a good solid hit, and help the team out.’
Alley reached base three times, walking twice and homering. Knesek did so four times with the help of a 2-3 day at the plate, while Henneke went 2-4.
Finateri got the win, moving to 1-3.
The dramatic performance hopefully will help the Terriers forget their slow start to the season. After a difficult schedule down south without much outdoor practice, they should be confident heading into Thursday’s home opener and the quickly approaching conference schedule, which starts next week.
‘Hopefully this will give us a spark,’ Alley said. ‘But I’m not really worried about us getting back.’
Alley’s first home run of the spring of her freshman year, as well as her confidence, indicates that the team is headed in the right direction.
BU fans will get their first chance to see that tomorrow, as the Terriers host Dartmouth College for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. on Ashford Street.
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