University of Albany Softball Splits America East Doubleheader With Boston University - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Boston, Mass. – Kristine Bill, Michelle Connors (Shenendehowa) and Gina Mason each hit a home run to lead UAlbany to a 10-7 victory over Boston University in the second game of an America East Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the BU Softball Field. The Terriers won the first game, 3-1, in nine innings.

After suffering an extra-inning loss to start the day, the Great Danes wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the second game. The offense plated three runs in the top of the first inning. Andrianna Walraven led off with a triple to right center, and Connors went yard two batters later to give UAlbany a 2-0 advantage. After Mason was hit by a pitch, Jess Bergin doubled her home to give the club a three-run lead.

Boston U. (20-8, AE 1-1) answered with a home run by Melissa Dubay in the bottom of the opening frame, but the Great Danes responded with two more runs in the second to chase BU starting pitcher Megan Currier out of the game. Walraven hit into a fielder’s choice with one out to plate Stephanie Talerico, and Meagan Butsch followed up with a single three batters later which scored Walraven.

UAlbany pitcher Marissa Powell, who was coming off her first shutout performance of the season against Siena on Wednesday, started to roll through the BU order after giving up the home run in the first inning. The Terriers only had one base runner in the second and third frames on a bunt single by Erica Casacci.

The Great Danes were able to break the game open in the fourth inning when Kristine Bill smashed her first career home run over the fence in right center, giving her team a six-run cushion. However, BU answered right back when Nora Militz and Emily Roesch each homered to make it 7-4 in the bottom half of the frame.

UAlbany regained its six-run lead when Mason hit a three-run homer to center field in the sixth inning, which would stand as the game-winning hit. BU attempted to rally with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Great Danes held on to salvage a split of the twinbill.

UAlbany’s Powell improved to 4-7 overall with her second straight victory despite giving up 11 hits and seven runs which were earned. BU’s Currier gave up five earned runs and six hits in just 1.2 innings to take the loss, dropping her record to 6-3. Kelley Engman surrendered seven hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings of work.

In game one, BU got on the scoreboard first when Rachel Hebert sent a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence in the bottom of the third inning. The Great Danes came back and were able to knot the score at one in the top of the fourth with two outs and a runner on first. Mason put the ball in play for what should have been a routine out, but a throwing error by Cassidi Hardy allowed the sophomore to advance to second base. Meanwhile, Meagan Butsch was able to score all the way from first.

UAlbany (14-8, AE 1-1) threatened to take the lead in the sixth by loading the bases with only one out. Bill singled to left, Connors singled to short and Butsch was hit by a pitch. However, Hardy got out of the jam by fanning Mason and forcing Bergin to ground into a fielder’s choice.

After the Great Danes stranded a runner at second in the top of the seventh, pitcher Leah McIntosh retired the middle of the Terriers’ lineup in order to extend the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Setterland’s two-run homer to center gave the Terriers the 3-1 win.

UAlbany’s McIntosh, who matched a career high with 18 strikeouts and did not issue any walks, fell to 10-1 this season with the loss. BU’s Hardy improved to 9-3 this year with the victory. She struck out seven and did not issue a walk while surrendering one unearned run.

UAlbany and BU will meet one more time on Sunday, March 29 at noon to close out the three-game series.

UAlbany 000 100 000 1 5 0

Boston U. 010 000 002 3 5 1

UAlbany: Leah McIntosh and Kat Smith.
Boston U.: Cassidi Hardy and Christy Leath.

UAlbany (14-8, AE 1-1) 320 203 0 10 13 1
Boston U. (20-8, AE 1-1) 100 300 3 7 11 2

UAlbany: Marissa Powell and Kat Smith.
Boston U.: Megan Currier, Kelley Engman (2) and Christy Leath.