The Boston University and University of Hartford softball teams entered yesterday tied for second place in the America East standings with 5-2 conference records. By the end of the day, the records had changed, but the deadlock at the second spot did not, when the teams each took a game in an Easter doubleheader in Hartford, Conn. The Terriers took the first contest, 3-1, but the Hawks took their revenge in the second, winning 4-3.
Although much seemed to go unsolved by the Sunday split, senior BU outfielder Shayne Lotito did establish one certainty for the Terriers. With one stolen base and two runs scored on the weekend, she became the program’s single-season and all-time leader in steals, with 25 and 83, respectively, as well as the all-time leader in runs with 133.’
Sophomore April Setterlund also had herself quite the weekend out of the two-hole for the Terriers. Setterlund amassed a grand total of six hits in eight at-bats over the two games, pushing her team-leading batting average up to an astonishing .409, which is second best in the conference.’ ‘
On the mound for the Terriers, there were two different storylines.
In the first matchup, redshirt junior Cassidi Hardy kept doing what she has been doing all season long for BU ‘-‘- earning victory upon victory through consistent, efficient pitching. Hardy earned her 13th victory of the season after allowing only one earned run on five hits, striking out four while allowing only one walk along the way.
Junior Megan Currier struggled in the second game, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out three batters. Despite a good first two innings, Currier fell apart in the third, allowing the four runs that the Terriers would not be able to top for the rest of the game.
Sophomore Kelley Engman stepped in to attempt to salvage the game. Engman had a good performance with just two hits and no runs. However, the Terriers were not able to overcome the one-run deficit. Currier took the loss, falling to 7-6.
The Terriers jumped to a 3-0 lead before Currier’s meltdown in the third inning of the second game. After Lotito grounded out on the first pitch, the Terriers’ next three batters scored hits off Hartford’s Brittany Stratton.
Setterlund doubled and senior Melissa Dubay hit a single that put runners on first and third. Sophomore Caitlin Rentler stepped up to give the Terriers their first score of the game. Her double to right field plated both runners to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.’ ‘
In the top of the third inning, Setterlund doubled again, putting Lotito in scoring position at third. Dubay singled, driving in Lotito for another run to give the Terriers a 3-0 lead.
The bottom of the third ended the Terriers’ hopes for a Sunday sweep. Three consecutive Hartford batters drove in runs for the Hawks to take the lead. Junior Sara Messinger began the Hawks’ scoring run, posting an RBI off a single to center field. Junior Ann Kyzer was next, driving in yet another run off yet another single. Finally, senior Kristen Cericola’s single to right-center field sealed the Hawks’ victory, driving in two runners to give Hartford a 4-3 lead.
The Terriers could not muster much of an offensive push for the rest of the game, dropping their second contest of the series.’ ‘ ‘
BU was slated to play two games against Hartford on Saturday but could not because of rain. With one game moved to Sunday, the game that will decide both this series and which team takes second in the conference will be played Monday.
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