BU spoils Maine’s homecoming Three-run second inning propels league-leading Terriers to victory

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ORONO – There was some measure of emotion as the University of Maine softball team finally held a game Tuesday afternoon at Mike Kessock Field for the first time this season. But home wasn’t a very welcome place for the Black Bears. Not only were…
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ORONO – There was some measure of emotion as the University of Maine softball team finally held a game Tuesday afternoon at Mike Kessock Field for the first time this season.

But home wasn’t a very welcome place for the Black Bears. Not only were they not the home team for the game against Boston University, but the Terriers took an early lead and rolled to a 5-0 victory.

The Black Bears (21-23, 6-8 in America East) played 43 games away from Orono before making their home debut Tuesday. They were scheduled for three home America East conference series earlier this month but all three were moved because of weather and field conditions in Orono.

Maine’s doubleheader against the league-leading Terriers (28-9, 12-2) was moved to Boston on April 11. The Bears served as the home team for those games so BU was the home team for Tuesday’s game that originally was scheduled to be held at BU.

The Bears were glad to finally be settled in at home.

“It’s been really tough to transition from being home but [at the same time] being away and all the long bus rides,” said senior co-captain Tara Vilardo. “We’ve been working hard to try to pull through.”

Maine stranded eight baserunners and missed a bases-loaded chance with one out in the second. The bottom of the order was due and neither No. 8 batter Beth Foltz nor No. 9 Melinda Corssino was able to move a runner.

Foltz and Corssino came up again in the fourth with runners on first and second with one out, but again were unable to push a run across.

“We were able to get a leadoff batter or someone with one out on, but we couldn’t produce,” Maine coach Stacey Sullivan said. “… It was unfortunate we had the bottom of the lineup up in some big situations.”

The swirling winds made it hard for fielders to judge fly balls.

Kristie Hawkins of Portland rapped two singles for Maine.

The Bears didn’t get a lot of production from their top three hitters, who combined to go 1-for-10.

“Usually we’re pretty good at getting each other on and around [the bases],” said leadoff batter Vilardo. “Today was just one of those days that the ball didn’t roll our way. [Winning pitcher Megan Currier] was putting her pitches in there, we just weren’t getting them into the holes like we wanted to.”

Currier walked three and struck out three for her America East-leading 15th win.

Brandi Shields sparked the Terriers in the second inning when she scorched a triple to the right-field fence, allowing two runs to score. Brooke Hudson had an RBI single earlier in the inning.

Eight of BU’s nine batters recorded at least a hit or a run.

“We’ve been pretty efficient throughout our lineup and I think that’s why we’re having such a good year,” BU coach Shawn Rychik said.

Megan Coughlin had a two-out, two-run single in the third.

Maine’s Alexis Souhlaris recorded her 26th stolen base of the season. She set the school record for most stolen bases in a season Saturday. The old mark was 23.

TERRIERS 5, BLACK BEARS 0

Maine (21-23) Boston U. (28-9)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Vilardo, lf 4 0 0 0 Shields, 2b 4 0 2

Spangler, dh 3 0 1 0 Lotito, lf 3 0 0

Waters, 2b 3 0 0 0 Louie, cf 3 0 0

Hawkins, 1b 3 0 2 0 Leath, c 3 1 0

Souhlaris, cf 2 0 0 0 Hebert, 1b 2 0

Calvetti, ss 2 0 1 0 Dubay, ss 3 1 0

Pullen, pr 0 0 0 0 Coughlin, dh 3 0 2

Joseph, rf 2 0 1 0 Gallagher, rf 2 1 0

Foltz, c 2 0 0 0 Hudson, 3b 2 1 1

Soule, c 1 0 0 0

Corssino, 3b 2 0 0 0

Iandoli, ph 0 0 0 0

Totals 24 0 5 0 Totals 25 5 7 5

Maine 000 000 0 – 0

Boston U. 032 000 x – 5

E-Corssino; LOB-Maine 8, BU 5; 3B-Shields; DP-Louie-Hebert; S-Souhlaris; SB-Spangler, Souhlaris; Shields, Leath, Dubay, Gallagher

Maine IP H R ER BB SO

Ghazali (L, 6-9) 5 7 5 3 2 1

McGivney 1 0 0 0 1 0

Boston U. IP H R ER BB SO

Currier (W, 15-2) 7 5 0 0 3 3

HBP-Spangler (by Currier); WP-Ghazali; T-1:40; ATT-183


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