Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Whether they were on the field, the track, or the court, Boston University’s athletic teams posted solid campaigns during the 2006–2007 academic year. Six women’s squads — cross-country, field hockey, indoor track and field, tennis, golf, and lacrosse — captured America East conference titles. As a result, BU snapped up its fifth America East Commissioner’s Cup, given to the athletic program with the highest score in the conference, in the past six years.

This week’s series features some of the shining sports moments covered by BU Today during the year’s winter and spring seasons. To read Monday’s story on BU’s sudden-death win over BC in the Beanpot, click here. To see Tuesday’s story on the Terrier women’s indoor track and field team’s America East win, click here. For yesterday’s story on the women’s tennis team’s 14th straight conference title, click here.

Part Four: Softball Captures America East Regular-Season Crown at Vermont

By BU Athletics staff

The Boston University softball team clinched the 2007 America East regular-season crown with a 4-1 win over Vermont on May 5, the Terriers’ first regular-season title since 2003. They cruised to a 12-2 victory in game two, making their record 33-12 overall and 16-3 in the conference, while Vermont fell to 7-33 overall and 2-16 in league play.

Pitchers Brittany Detwiler (COM’07) and Megan Currier (CGS’08) each earned complete-game wins. Brooke Hudson (CAS’09) drove in two runs and Currier went the distance in the first game. Rachel Hebert (CGS’08) led the offense in game two with three hits and two RBI, and Rachel Moeller (CAS’10) was 1-for-3, with three RBI, after smacking a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Brandi Shields (SMG’07) was 3-for-3, with one RBI, and classmate Chiya Louie (COM’07) was 2-for-4, driving in two runs.
 
In the fourth inning of game one the Terriers went to work on Vermont starter Aimee Kern, pushing three across the plate on a fielder’s choice and a two-run single. Designated hitter Nora Militz (SMG’09) posted the first RBI on a fielder’s choice that brought home Christy Leath (SAR’09). Hudson upped the Terriers’ lead to three with a two-run single to center field. Vermont responded in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double to right center. Currier struck out the final batter before the Catamounts could put any more runs on the board.
 
The BU bats went quiet over the next couple of innings, but the seventh saw them tack on one more on a bases-loaded walk. Louie, Leath, and Melissa Dubay (CAS’09) each recorded singles, and with two outs, Moeller drew the walk and drove in the final run. Vermont went down in order in the bottom half as Currier earned her 18th win of the season, tying the freshman record. She struck out five batters, allowed one run, and scattered five hits.
 
In game two the Terriers struck early as Shields homered to left field in the first at-bat. BU added three runs in the top of the third on a throwing error, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Molly Gallagher (COM’08) scored when UVM’s Hayley Crosby overthrew first base, and Louie followed up with an RBI single. Leath capped off the third-inning scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
BU had an eight-run outburst in the fifth, highlighted by a Moeller three-run home run. Hebert and Dubay got things going with back-to-back RBI singles, and two at-bats later Moeller unleashed the three-run homer to up the Terriers’ lead to nine. BU then added three more runs in three consecutive at-bats. After going through the batting order, UVM starter Alison Daggett forced a pop-up to end the inning.

Detwiler pitched four scoreless innings, but UVM spoiled the shutout with a two-run home run in the fifth. Detwiler struck out five batters and allowed four hits in her seventh win of the season.

This article originally appeared on BU Today on May 5, 2007.