After the Boston University softball team suffered its first two home conference losses in the three-year history of the BU Softball Field on Saturday, they rallied yesterday to split a four-game series with the University at Albany, ensuring a third-straight America East regular season title.
The Great Danes (32-8, 17-4 America East) took control of the conference lead after their 6-1 and 6-5 wins on Saturday. Albany hurler Andrea Lindgren only allowed one hit – a home run by senior outfielder Tiffany Finateri – in game one, and the Terriers came up short in game two, despite a grand slam by sophomore designated player DeKenya Williams.
However, the Terriers (29-20, 17-3) would not allow the title to be taken on their home field, as they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the first game in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore first baseman Jenni Shields’ leadoff, walk-off home run in the last of the ninth sealed the 4-3 win for BU, setting up a second game to decide the regular season title.
Finateri (7-6), who pitched all 16 innings on Sunday and got two wins, allowed just three hits in the second game and shut out Albany to secure the top seed. BU’s offense scored two runs in the first and two more in the sixth to secure the win.
The America East Tournament begins May 8 at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y. The top-seeded Terriers face the host University of Stony Brook Seawolves (25-31, 12-10) at 2:30 p.m. in the first round.
The other game features second-seeded Albany against third-seeded University of Maine. The tournament goes by a double-elimination format, and the winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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