WEST HARTFORD, CT ? The University of Hartford softball team split a doubleheader against Boston University on Saturday afternoon at the UH Softball Field, with each team picking up 9-1 victories. Both games lasted only five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Boston University (29-11 overall, 13-3 America East) took the decision in the first game as starter Megan Currier (16-3 overall) allowed just one run on three hits through five innings while striking out three. Hartford (20-21 overall, 10-6 America East) bounced back for the win in the second game behind freshman Brittney Stratton (13-9 overall), who allowed one run on four hits over five innings while striking out five.
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Freshman Amanda Dilworth led off with a triple down the right field line, and sophomore Amanda Sais followed with an infield hit to give Hartford runners at the corners. After senior Kristie Rochette was hit by a pitch to load the bases and classmate Nikki Thompson struck out for the first out of the frame, the Hawks scored their first run when the BU third baseman fielded a ground ball and went home for the out. The catcher took the throw in time but failed to touch the plate, and Dilworth was called safe. Sais later scored on a wild pitch.
BU's only run came in the fourth when Melissa Dubay singled with two outs to keep the inning alive. Nora Militz followed with a double to right center that plated Dubay to make it 2-1, though Stratton got the next batter to strike out swinging to end the threat.
Hartford got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Rochette. A throwing error by the BU left fielder also allowed Sais to score on the play, giving the Hawks a 4-1 edge.
After Stratton overcame two Hartford fielding errors in the fifth to keep BU off the board, the Hawks responded with a five-run rally to end the game. BU pitchers Brittany Detwiler and Rachel Moeller combined to give up three hits and issued four walks in the frame. Dilworth, Thompson and sophomore Jackie Simonetty all had RBI singles in the inning, and the game-winning run scored on Simonetty's base hit to left field.
Rochette finished the second game with two RBI, the second of which came on a walk in the fifth that tied the school record for career base on balls. Dilworth and Thompson also had a pair of hits for the Hawks while the former and Sais each scored three times.
Hartford's only run in the first game came on a fourth-inning solo homer by Simonetty, her second of the season. Dubay and Moeller also homered for the Terriers in the fourth, with both shots coming off freshman Gina Massaro, who entered the game in the frame in relief of senior Brie Hout. Hout (1-1 overall) gave up seven runs on seven hits in three innings while striking out two while Massaro gave up two runs on four hits in two innings.
Hartford and Boston University will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday, April 29 at 12 p.m.
