The Boston University Softball Field has stood unusable so far this season due to weather conditions, so the softball team has looked elsewhere for a home. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Stadium was a perfect fit for the Terriers, as they overtook the Retrievers’ home turf with a three-game sweep on Friday and Saturday.
The Terriers’ (15-21, 3-0 America East) offensive machine produced the greatest product of the season so far, shutting out the potent Retriever offense in all three games while pouncing on UMBC pitching for a combined 21 runs in 8-0, 9-0 and 4-0 wins.
“It was a great weekend,” said senior outfielder Abbey Pauley. “Anytime you can start off the conference schedule like this is a positive. We wanted to go out and prove to teams that even though our record may not have been what we thought it would be, that we’re still a strong team.”
Freshman Ashlee Freeman (10-11) pitched every one of the 17 innings the Terriers played, tallying three wins to leave the Retrievers (19-22, 0-5) chasing their own tails. Freeman allowed just nine hits over the three games, while fanning 13 batters.
“She was amazing,” Pauley said of the rookie hurler. “We’ve seen her pitch some great games, but to go out there and just shut them down the way she did – that just gave the entire team a lot of confidence.”
In game one of the doubleheader, the Terriers used a five-run third inning to put the game away. After three straight singles, sophomore designated player Erin McDonald drove home the first run with another one-bagger.
Freeman not only showed her talent in the circle, but also displayed it at the plate, launching her first career grand slam following McDonald’s hit.
The Terriers tacked on two more in the fifth, as sophomore first baseman Liz Alley continued her hot hitting of late with a two-run homer, scoring junior shortstop Jamie Haas. The mercy rule was applied after five innings, but not before freshman right fielder Brittany Detwiler hit a home run of her own, capping off the BU scoring in the 8-0 win.
In the nightcap, the Terriers struck early, as three runners crossed the plate in the first inning. McDonald struck again, singling up the middle to drive in junior DeKenya Williams and Haas.
The Terriers were at it again in the second, as Haas drove in Detwiler with a single, then came around on a Retriever error.
The third inning was the calm before the storm, as the Terriers erupted in the fourth for four more runs. Alley drove in two on a single to right before Williams followed with a two-run homer, inflating the lead to 9-0 to mercy UMBC for the second straight game.
The Terriers were helped out by the Retrievers’ defense – or lack thereof – as they committed five errors, resulting in five unearned runs for BU.
“Well, we definitely didn’t help their pitchers’ ERAs,” said BU coach Amy Hayes. “I mean, we’ve been on that side, and it’s good to turn the tables. I think they’re all starting to get comfortable, but really they just went out there and completed their mission.”
After a very pleasant sleep, the Terriers were up and ready to go on Saturday. Haas seemed to be the most refreshed, as after reaching on a single, she proceeded to steal second and third base before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by freshman second baseman Chiya Louie.
Freeman got into her first real jam of the series in the second inning as the Retrievers loaded the bases with one out. But Freeman induced two shallow fly-outs, preserving the 1-0 lead. Alley put a little more distance between the two teams after the close encounter, hitting a solo homer to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.
Both pitchers settled down, as neither one had to fight her way through another jam until the top of the seventh, when Alley closed the door on the Retrievers again with a two-run single to put the Terriers on top 4-0.
“We did what we wanted,” Pauley said. “We went in there and attacked. We were patient, we found our pitch and after all the batting practice we took indoors, we were definitely ready.”
Hayes stressed the importance of defense and pitching, and in the third game Freeman’s solid outing and the stellar defense behind her gave BU the win despite just four Terrier hits.
Alley had an incredible series, going 5-8 with two home runs, seven RBIs and three runs scored. Yet, the ability of the players at the top of the order to get on base, such as Jamie Haas (5-10, five runs), fueled the offensive surge.
“They were key,” Hayes said. “[Alley] is getting back to her role and starting to really feel comfortable, and [Haas] has been able to get on base in big situations for us.”
The Terriers hope their production does not disappear when they host the University of Massachusetts at Amherst today – a game that was rescheduled due to inclement weather conditions. UMass (18-11, 4-0 Atlantic 10) comes into today’s action winners of 11 in a row, including a two-game sweep of Dayton University on Friday.
“UMass is a good team,” Pauley said. “They always battle with us, and we just have to come out fighting and be ready for it.”
BU’s home field advantage may not exist in this case, as the ‘Dogs try again to christen the BU Softball Field. UMass has played exceptionally well on the road, posting a 7-2 mark away from Amherst.
The Minutewomen are led by all-conference third baseman Katie Jo Kelley, who has slugged 11 home runs to go with 26 RBIs this year. They also get it done in the circle, as Kelli Arnold (8-5, 2.03 ERA) and Jenna Busa (10-5, 2.05 ERA) have devastated their opponents.
“They’re one of the strongest teams in the Northeast,” Hayes said. “Like us, they played a lot of tough competition at the start of the season. We’ve come close to beating them in the past, and hopefully this will be our year.”
Hayes said she is not sure if Freeman will get the start for the Terriers, as she is also looking ahead toward Wednesday’s doubleheader with the University of Maine.
“This weekend was a confidence builder, and we needed it,” Pauley said. “It just showed us that we can play with anyone and that we can take the conference just like we’ve done.”
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