The Boston University softball team posted a two-game sweep of the University of Columbia on Saturday behind senior Cassidi Hardy’s second no-hitter of the season in a 2-0 shutout in the first game. Senior Melissa Dubay knocked out two home runs in the second game to help lift the Terriers to an 11-7 victory.
Despite their performance on Saturday, the Terriers (16-7) were inconsistent in their next two games on Sunday, earning an emphatic 10-3 win over Lehigh University but falling to St. Joseph’s University, 3-1.’
Hardy earned her seventh win of the season against Columbia (7-14), and is just the third player in Terrier history to pitch two no-hitters in one season. She joins Audrey West, who threw four perfect games in 1994, and Shannon Downey, who threw a no-hitter and a perfect game in 1993. Both were named the America East Pitcher of the Year in their respective seasons.
‘She threw well,’ BU coach Shawn Rychick said. ‘I don’t think it was her best game. She had a few walks in there, but she was able to keep them off balance. It’s always great when your pitcher throws a no-hitter. It puts you in a pretty good spot.
Hardy earned her first career no-hitter against Western Michigan University on March 6, shutting out the Broncos, 4-0. Since then, the senior has earned a 1.28 ERA, 55 strikeouts and a 7-3 record.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
‘That’s why we recruited her,’ Rychick said. ‘That’s why she’s here. We count on everybody to do their job, so she hasn’t done anything that was over our expectations. But it’s a nice comfort knowing you’re going to get good outings from her.’
Dubay was the Terriers’ offensive muscle in the batter’s box on Saturday with three hits and six RBIs in the two games. She provided the game-winning run in the Terriers’ first contest against the Lions and was part of an avalanche of runs in the second game.
‘She has been outstanding this year,’ Rychick said. ‘She is absolutely at her best right now. She’s been really good in RBI situations. I’m really pleased with the way she is playing.’
The first game was an easy one for the Terriers. Dubay and classmate Christy Leath drove in BU’s two tallies for the day, and Hardy came away with four walks and seven strikeouts. Freshman Erica Casacci was 2-for-2 at the plate.
Dubay provided the game-winner in the third inning with a single up the middle. Leath drove in senior Brooke Hudson in the final inning to give the Terriers some breathing room.
Game Two could not have been more different, with 18 combined runs from the two teams. The Terriers caught fire in the sixth inning, driving in 11 runs. Dubay had a three-run homer and Hudson sent two runners home on an RBI double. Leath also had an RBI double, and sophomore Caitlin Rentler and junior Rachel Moeller had RBI hits to finish the inning for the Terriers.
Although she allowed seven runs, sophomore Kelley Engman also had four strikeouts and would have a much better performance against Lehigh (11-13) the next day.
‘With her, I think it’s just hitting the spots and making the ball move every time,’ Rychick said. ‘She just has to get consistent and be on top of her game. She threw a lot better on Sunday and beat a pretty good Lehigh team.’
Engman earned her victory against the Mountain Hawks by giving up three runs on eight hits and one strikeout in seven innings. Rentler followed up a solid performance from the day before with a three-run homer in the game, helping the Terriers overwhelm Lehigh in a 10-run show of offensive strength.
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