BU beats Maine despite Bennis? effort

STONY BROOK, N.Y. ? University of Maine pitcher Sarah Bennis notched 10 strikeouts, but her third-seeded Black Bears fell to No. 2 Boston University 1-0 in extra innings Thursday afternoon.

The America East playoff loss leaves Maine 16-25 overall. The Black Bears will face Stony Brook in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. today.

BU’s Tyler Benson led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and Jamie Haas hit a bunt single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice put Benson out at home with runners at the corners. Haas scored the game’s only run via a fielding error on a ball hit by Chiya Louie.

Bennis allowed six hits and walked no one in her nine innings of work. Brittany Cheney led Maine with a double and a single.

Haas had had three singles and a stolen base for the 26-17-1 Terriers. Ashlee Freeman (13-8) went the distance, allowing five hits and two walks while notching nine strikeouts.

Maine (16-25) 000 000 000 ? 0 5 1

Boston U. (26-17-1) 000 000 001 ? 1 6 0

Bennis and Tibbetts; Freeman and Shields