Information from Boston University Athletic Communications was used in this report
ATLANTA - Playing in its first NCAA Regional championship game in 13 years, the Boston University softball team (43-18) battled No. 14 Georgia Tech (46-13), but dropped a 7-2 decision on Sunday night at Mewborn Field. The Terriers remained within striking distance of the Yellow Jackets through 4.5 innings, but home runs in the fifth and sixth ended BU's run through the NCAA Regional.
Earlier in the day, the Terriers picked up their second win at the regional with a 5-0 triumph over Auburn to become just the third America East squad to reach a Regional Final. Albany picked up wins over Harvard and Hofstra in 2007 before falling to Baylor, while Boston U. downed UConn and UMass in 1997 before succumbing to Princeton.
In the first game, BU took an early lead over the Tigers, one that it would not relent. April Setterlund and Melissa Dubay cracked two straight homers and senior Brooke Hudson unleashed an RBI double in the first. Freshman Emily Roesch added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run blast to right field that also allowed senior Christy Leath to score.
Setterlund got things going early with her team-leading eighth home run of the season when she cracked one over the right field fence to put BU ahead, 1-0. On the next at-bat Dubay went deep for her fifth home run on the year as she tied BU's career RBI record (124) with the hit. Hudson kept the momentum going with an RBI double that plated Leath and extend her hit streak to seven games.
The bats went silent over the next three innings and junior Rachel Hebert made a great defensive save in the fifth when she snagged a hard-hit line drive to her right for the first out. Lotito recorded her second hit on the afternoon with a line drive into left field but a double play ended the threat.
With six outs to go in the game, the Terriers turned their 32nd double play of the season in the sixth to keep the Tigers from advancing to second for the first time all game. In the seventh, Auburn went down in order, following Roesch's two-run blast.
In the nightcap, Boston U. was opportunistic against the Yellow Jackets, scoring its two runs in innings where Georgia Tech made defensive errors, scoring two unearned runs on a single in the third and a wild pitch in the fourth.
The Terriers continued to display their trademark defense, turning their third double play of the weekend and 33rd of the season when senior Melissa Dubay touched second and threw to junior Rachel Hebert to end the first inning. In the second, Georgia Tech took the lead with two outs on an RBI double by Jessica Weaver that roped into right center, plating Caroline Hilton. Hardy then recorded a strikeout to end the inning and strand one base runner.
BU threatened in the third after an error got Hebert on base and a hard-hit single to second by senior Shayne Lotito placed runners on the corners. On the next at-bat, sophomore April Setterlund tied the game with an RBI single through the right side. In the bottom half of the frame, back-to-back hits moved runners to second and third with no outs and a sacrifice fly out regained the lead for the Yellow Jackets, 2-1. The Terriers contained the damage, recording two straight outs, including a hard throw from Dubay to Hebert to end the inning.
For the second time in the game, BU placed runners on the corners in the fourth inning on a single and Georgia Tech fielding error, and then took advantage of a wild pitch to tie the game, 2-2, when freshman Emily Roesch crossed home plate.
Georgia Tech reclaimed the lead with a two-run blast to center field, but senior Brooke Hudson made a diving defensive save immediately following when Whitney Haller singled into right field and advanced to second on an error. Sophomore Caitlin Rentler made a long throw to third as Haller came sliding into the bag, but Hudson snagged the throw and dove to her left to tag her.
With six batters left for the Terriers, BU put one more runner on base with a single from Leath. But Jessica Coan struck out two in the seventh and a flyout ended the game.
The Terriers complete their historic season with single-season team records for wins (43), hits (453), doubles (83) and stolen bases (94). Senior Shayne Lotito finishes her career as the program's all-time leader in runs (150), at-bats (712) and stolen bases (93), while classmate Melissa Dubay tied the career RBI record (124). Fellow senior Christy Leath will graduate as BU's all-time walks leader (119). Along with classmates Brooke Hudson, Nora Militz and Megan Coughlin, this group graduates as the all-time winningest class in program history.