ORONO, MAINE ? America East Pitcher of the Year Casey Halloran threw a five-inning no-hitter to pace the No. 2 Albany Great Danes to an 8-0 victory over No. 3 UMBC, while Boston University's Cassidi Hardy allowed just one hit to lead the No. 4 Terriers to an 11-1 win at No. 1 Maine on Thursday afternoon on Kessock Field. Day two of the four-team double-elimination tournament continues Friday at 11 a.m.
Halloran dazzled in the circle by stymieing the conference's leading offense. The Retrievers could not solve the junior right-handed pitcher as she tossed the tournament's first no-hitter since 2002 when Boston University's Robyn Horrick blanked the Great Danes, 3-0, in first round action as well.
Boston University becomes just the fourth No. 4 seed in conference tournament history, and the first since 2001, to knock off the top seed in first round action. The Terriers' 11-run outburst marks the most runs scored in a first round game and also the most in tourney play overall since 2003, when Boston University lit up Maine for 19 runs in the semifinals.
The Great Danes and Terriers move on through the winners bracket and will face one another on Friday morning at 11 a.m. UMBC and Maine will meet in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. The loser of the first contest will then take on the winner of the second game at 4 p.m.
The winner of the America East Championship earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.