Sarah Bennis pitched a two-hit complete-game and Lauren Dulkis scored on a sacrifice fly ot break a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning as Maine defeated Boston University, 2-1 at Kessock Field, to win the America East Softball Championship. The fourth-seeded Black Bears, 28-21, become the lowest seeded team to win the title in the 13-year history of the championship.
Maine trailed 1-0 when all-championship choice Jess Brady led off the sixth inning with a double. Dulkis, the championship’s Most Outstanding Player, followed with a single, which was misplayed by the left fielder allowing Brady to score and Dulkis to advance all the way to third. Brittany Cheney then scored Dulkis with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Two-time defending conference champion Boston University, 26-32, had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Abbey Pauley walked, stole second and scored when DeKenya Williams’ single was misplayed by the left fielder.
Bennis, an all-championship choice, limited the Terriers to just one base runner the rest of the way, a one-out single by Pauley in the third inning. The right-hander allowed one unearned run while striking out five and walking one in improving to 10-9.
Brittany Detwiler, who allowed two unearned runs of five hits in 5.2 innings, fell to 5-13. Ashlee Freeman, who had helped Boston University force the deciding game with a complete-game in a 3-2 win earlier in the day, pitched 1.1 innings of perfect relief.
Dulkis, Brady, Bennis and Pauley were joined on the all-championship team by Molly McKinney of Maine, Jamie Haas and Freeman of Boston University, Kristen Brust and Angela Andews of Stony Brook and Andee Lindgren and Ashley Rios of Albany.
Maine, which earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Championship, awaits the pairings for the 64-field team Sunday night. It will be the Black Bears second NCAA appearance. Current head coach Deb Smith, the America East Player of the Year in 1994, led the Black Bears to the NCAA Championship that year.
The Terriers scored single runs in the first, third and seventh innings and Freeman scattered 11 hits in the 3-2 win in the first game with Maine in the winner’s bracket.
The Terriers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Pauley led off with a walk and scored when Haas doubled to left field. Boston University increased the lead in the third inning thanks to control problems from Maine starter Jenna Merchant, who walked six while giving up two runs in 2.2 innings. Merchant walked five in the inning, including a pass to Erin McDonald which scored Haas. The inning could have been worse for Maine had Emily Varga not been caught stealing.
Maine cut into the lead in the sixth inning when McKinney doubled with one out, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Merchant. Lindsey Tibbetts followed with a single and and pinch-hitter Nicole Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Freeman ended the threat with a strikeout of Sara Asadoorian.
The Terriers added what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the seventh. Williams walked, stole second and scored when the catcher’s throw sailed into center field and past the center fielder, allowing Williams to circle the bases.
Brady, who was four-for-four in the game, led off the bottom of the seventh for Maine with a triple and after a popout, scored on a sacrifice fly by Cheney. McKinney then singled and Amy Kuhl walked, but Freeman got Merchant to pop to third to end the game.
Freeman struck out one and walked one while improving to 18-13. Merchant fell to 10-5. Bennis pitched 4.1 innings for Maine, allowing an unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
America East Softball Championship
Kessock Field, Orono, Maine
Thursday, May 13
Game 1—No. 2 Stony Brook 6, No. 3 Boston University 2
Game 2—No. 4 Maine 1, No. 1 Albany 0
Friday, May 14
Game 3—Maine 7, Stony Brook 4
Game 4—Boston University 3, Albany 2 (9)
Game 5—Boston University 5, Stony Brook 2
Saturday, May 15
Game 6—Boston University 3, Maine 2
Game 7—Maine 2, Boston University 1 (Maine wins NCAA automatic bid)
Box score (NCAA)
The Automated ScoreBook
Maine vs Boston University
May 15, 2004 at ORONO, MAINE (KESSOCK FIELD)
Maine 2 (28-21)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BRADY, Jessica cf........ 4 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0
DULKIS, Lauren 3b........ 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 1
CHENEY, Brittany ss...... 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 0
McKINNEY, Molly rf....... 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
KUHL, Amy 1b............. 3 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0
BELMONTE, Christina pr.. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MERCHANT, Jennifer dh.... 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1
JOSEPH, Kate pr......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PROVOST, Erin lf......... 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1
TIBBETTS, Lindsey c...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 3
VILARDO, Tara pr........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASADOORIAN, Sara 2b...... 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0
BENNIS, Sarah p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Totals................... 25 2 5 1 2 3 21 6 6
Boston University 1 (26-32)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Pauley cf................ 2 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 0
Haas ss.................. 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Alley 1b................. 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 1
Williams lf.............. 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0
McDonald dh.............. 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1
Louie 2b................. 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Mendez c................. 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0
King 3b.................. 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Varga rf................. 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0
Detwiler p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Freeman p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 22 1 2 0 1 5 21 6 2
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Maine............... 000 002 0 - 2 5 1
Boston University... 100 000 0 - 1 2 2
-----------------------------------------
E - PROVOST; Alley; Williams. LOB - Maine 6; BU 2. 2B - BRADY. HBP -
MERCHANT. SH - Haas. SF - CHENEY. SB - Pauley.
Maine IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
BENNIS, Sarah....... 7.0 2 1 0 1 5 22 24
Boston University IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Detwiler............ 5.2 5 2 0 2 3 21 25
Freeman............. 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 4 4
Win - BENNIS (10-9). Loss - Detwiler (5-13). Save - None.
WP - BENNIS. HBP - by Detwiler (MERCHANT).
Umpires - HP: Mike Studely 1B: Mark Breggman 3B: Mike Cavello
Start: 2:45 PM Time: 2:40 Attendance: 322
Game: AECHAMP2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play-by-Play
The Automated ScoreBook
Maine vs Boston University - Play-by-Play
May 15, 2004 at ORONO, MAINE (KESSOCK FIELD)
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Maine............... 000 002 0 - 2 5 1
Boston University... 100 000 0 - 1 2 2
-----------------------------------------
Maine starters: 1/cf BRADY; 7/3b DULKIS; 21/ss CHENEY; 19/rf McKINNEY; 32/1b
KUHL; 2/dh MERCHANT; 11/lf PROVOST; 5/c TIBBETTS; 23/2b ASADOORIAN; 9/p
BENNIS;
Boston University starters: 24/cf Pauley; 14/ss Haas; 12/1b Alley; 25/lf
Williams; 11/dh McDonald; 13/2b Louie; 9/c Mendez; 3/3b King; 6/rf Varga;
7/p Detwiler;
Maine - inning 1
BRADY struck out swinging. DULKIS grounded out to ss. CHENEY flied out to
cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Boston University - inning 1
Pauley walked. Haas grounded out to c unassisted. Pauley stole second.
Alley flied out to lf. Williams singled, advanced to second on the throw;
Pauley advanced to third, scored on an error by lf, unearned. Williams
advanced to third on a wild pitch. McDonald struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 1
error, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 2
McKINNEY flied out to cf. KUHL grounded out to 3b. MERCHANT singled up
the middle. PROVOST flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Boston University - inning 2
Louie struck out swinging. Mendez struck out swinging. King popped up to
2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 3
TIBBETTS reached on an error by 1b. VILARDO pinch ran for TIBBETTS.
VILARDO out at second c to 2b, picked off. ASADOORIAN walked. BRADY
struck out swinging. DULKIS flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.
Boston University - inning 3
TIBBETTS to c for VILARDO. Varga grounded out to ss. Pauley singled up
the middle. Haas out at first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt; Pauley advanced to
second. Alley grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 4
CHENEY fouled out to 1b. McKINNEY flied out to rf. KUHL singled to left
field. MERCHANT struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Boston University - inning 4
Williams flied out to cf. McDonald lined out to p. Louie flied out to rf.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 5
PROVOST grounded out to ss. TIBBETTS flied out to rf. ASADOORIAN popped
up to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Boston University - inning 5
Mendez popped up to ss. King grounded out to ss. Varga popped up to ss. 0
runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 6
BRADY doubled to left field. DULKIS singled, advanced to third on an
error by lf; BRADY scored, unearned. CHENEY flied out to lf, SAC, RBI;
DULKIS scored, unearned. McKINNEY lined out to lf. KUHL singled up the
middle. MERCHANT hit by pitch; KUHL advanced to second. BELMONTE pinch
ran for KUHL. PROVOST walked; MERCHANT advanced to second; BELMONTE
advanced to third. Freeman to p for Detwiler. JOSEPH pinch ran for
MERCHANT. TIBBETTS popped up to 3b. 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Boston University - inning 6
KUHL to 1b for BELMONTE. Pauley struck out swinging. Haas lined out to
3b. Alley flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 7
ASADOORIAN flied out to cf. BRADY grounded out to p. DULKIS grounded out
to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Boston University - inning 7
Williams grounded out to 2b. McDonald struck out looking. Louie grounded
out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Box score (NCAA)
The Automated ScoreBook
Boston University vs Maine
May 15, 2004 at Orono, Maine (Kessock Field)
Boston University 3 (26-31)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Pauley cf................ 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 1
Haas ss.................. 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 3
Alley 1b................. 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 1 0
Williams lf.............. 2 1 1 0 2 1 2 0 0
McDonald dh.............. 3 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 2
Louie 2b................. 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 3
Mendez c................. 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0
King 3b.................. 3 0 2 0 0 0 4 2 0
Varga rf................. 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
Freeman p................ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 24 3 4 2 8 7 21 7 9
Maine 2 (27-21)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
BRADY, Jessica cf........ 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
DULKIS, Lauren 3b........ 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
CHENEY, Brittany ss...... 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 1
McKINNEY, Molly dh/rf.... 4 1 4 0 0 0 1 0 0
KUHL, Amy 1b............. 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 0
SIROIS, Shannon pr...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MERCHANT, Jennifer p/dh.. 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
VILARDO, Tara pr/dh..... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TIBBETTS, Lindsey c...... 3 0 1 0 0 0 8 1 1
BELMONTE, Christina pr.. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GRIMM, Dana rf/lf........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
TAYLOR, Nicole ph....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ASADOORIAN, Sara 2b...... 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 3
PROVOST, Erin lf......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
BENNIS, Sarah p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Totals................... 26 2 11 2 1 1 21 9 10
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Boston University... 101 000 1 - 3 4 0
Maine............... 000 001 1 - 2 11 3
-----------------------------------------
E - BRADY; DULKIS; TIBBETTS. DP - BU 1. LOB - BU 9; Maine 10. 2B - Haas;
McKINNEY 2; ASADOORIAN. 3B - BRADY. HBP - KUHL; TAYLOR. SH - Pauley; DULKIS;
KUHL; MERCHANT. SF - CHENEY. SB - Williams; BRADY. CS - Varga.
Boston University IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Freeman............. 7.0 11 2 2 1 1 26 33
Maine IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
MERCHANT, Jennifer.. 2.2 1 2 2 6 3 7 14
BENNIS, Sarah....... 4.1 3 1 0 2 4 17 19
Win - Freeman (18-13). Loss - MERCHANT (10-5). Save - None.
WP - MERCHANT. HBP - by Freeman (KUHL); by Freeman (TAYLOR).
Umpires -
Start: Noon Time: 2:26 Attendance: 322
Game notes:
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 6
Game: AECHAMP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play-by-Play
The Automated ScoreBook
Boston University vs Maine - Play-by-Play
May 15, 2004 at Orono, Maine (Kessock Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Boston University... 101 000 1 - 3 4 0
Maine............... 000 001 1 - 2 11 3
-----------------------------------------
Boston University starters: 24/cf Pauley; 14/ss Haas; 12/1b Alley; 25/lf
Williams; 11/dh McDonald; 13/2b Louie; 9/c Mendez; 3/3b King; 6/rf Varga;
18/p Freeman;
Maine starters: 1/cf BRADY; 7/3b DULKIS; 21/ss CHENEY; 19/dh McKINNEY; 32/1b
KUHL; 2/p MERCHANT; 5/c TIBBETTS; 12/rf GRIMM; 23/2b ASADOORIAN; 11/lf
PROVOST;
Boston University - inning 1
Pauley walked. Haas doubled to left field, RBI; Pauley scored. Alley
struck out looking. Williams struck out swinging. McDonald struck out
looking. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 1
BRADY singled to third base. DULKIS flied out to lf. CHENEY grounded into
double play p to ss to 1b; BRADY out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Boston University - inning 2
Louie grounded out to 2b. Mendez flied out to lf. King grounded out to
3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 2
McKINNEY doubled to right center. KUHL hit by pitch. MERCHANT out at
first 3b to 2b, bunt, SAC; KUHL advanced to second; McKINNEY advanced to
third. TIBBETTS lined out to 1b. GRIMM flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0
errors, 2 LOB.
Boston University - inning 3
Varga walked. Pauley out at first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt; Varga advanced to
second. Varga out at second c to ss, caught stealing. Haas walked. Haas
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alley walked. Williams walked; Alley
advanced to second; Haas advanced to third. McDonald walked, RBI;
Williams advanced to second; Alley advanced to third; Haas scored.
McKINNEY to rf. MERCHANT to dh. GRIMM to lf. BENNIS to p for PROVOST.
Louie reached on a fielder's choice; McDonald advanced to second;
Williams advanced to third; Alley out at home p to c. 1 run, 0 hits, 0
errors, 3 LOB.
Maine - inning 3
ASADOORIAN fouled out to c. BRADY singled to right field. DULKIS out at
first 3b to 2b, SAC, bunt; BRADY advanced to second. CHENEY fouled out to
c. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Boston University - inning 4
Mendez struck out looking. King singled to right field. Varga struck out
swinging. Pauley struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 4
McKINNEY singled through the left side. KUHL out at first 1b to 2b, SAC,
bunt; McKINNEY advanced to second. MERCHANT fouled out to c. TIBBETTS
flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Boston University - inning 5
Haas grounded out to 3b. Alley struck out swinging. Williams singled
through the left side. McDonald reached on a fielder's choice; Williams
out at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 5
GRIMM popped up to 3b. ASADOORIAN doubled to right field. BRADY singled
to third base; ASADOORIAN advanced to third. BRADY stole second. DULKIS
lined out to 2b; ASADOORIAN out at third 2b to 3b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Boston University - inning 6
Louie lined out to p. Mendez grounded out to 3b. King singled up the
middle. Varga reached on an error by 3b; King advanced to third. Pauley
walked; Varga advanced to second. Haas grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit,
1 error, 3 LOB.
Maine - inning 6
CHENEY fouled out to 3b. McKINNEY doubled. KUHL grounded out to 2b;
McKINNEY advanced to third. MERCHANT singled up the middle, RBI; McKINNEY
scored. TIBBETTS singled to right field; MERCHANT advanced to second.
VILARDO pinch ran for MERCHANT. TAYLOR pinch hit for GRIMM. TAYLOR hit by
pitch; TIBBETTS advanced to second; VILARDO advanced to third. BELMONTE
pinch ran for TIBBETTS. GRIMM to lf for TAYLOR. ASADOORIAN struck out
swinging. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Boston University - inning 7
VILARDO to dh. TIBBETTS to c for BELMONTE. Alley fouled out to 3b.
Williams walked. Williams stole second, advanced to third on an error by
c. Williams scored on an error by cf, unearned. McDonald lined out to ss.
Louie flied out to rf. 1 run, 0 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 7
BRADY tripled to right center. DULKIS popped up to ss. CHENEY fouled out
to lf, SAC, RBI; BRADY scored. McKINNEY singled to left field. KUHL
walked; McKINNEY advanced to second. SIROIS pinch ran for KUHL. MERCHANT
to dh for VILARDO. MERCHANT fouled out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2
LOB.