CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- For the third straight year, Boston University is the America East regular-season softball champion as the Terriers captured the title on the season's final day Sunday when the tournament seeds were finalized. Boston U. will host the championship, which will take place Thursday, May 10 through Saturday May 12 at BU Softball Field.
The Terriers earned their ninth regular-season title by taking two games from UMBC Sunday to complete a three-game sweep while Stony Brook dropped its finale to Albany. The Seawolves, whose 35 wins are their second-most at the Division I level, Albany, the reigning champion, and Maine, which is making just its second tournament appearance since 2007, round out the field.
Boston U. (37-14 overall, 15-3 America East) took all three games from the Retrievers this weekend to improve to 13-1 in its last 14 games. The Terriers, who will seek their third league crown in four years, will try to become the first host to celebrate a championship on its home field since 2004.
Stony Brook (35-15-1, 14-3-1) took the first two games from Albany this weekend, but dropped the final game of the series Sunday, 7-4, to fall to second in the standings. The Seawolves return to the tournament as the No. 2 seed after missing out in 2011. The Seawolves' .806 win conference win percentage is the third-best in league history for a team that did not finish first.
Albany (34-12, 13-5), the No. 3 seed, salvaged the finale against Stony Brook Sunday and is the No. 3 seed for the championship. The Great Danes, who are 29-7 since a 3-5 start, are trying to win their second straight title and fifth since 2005.
Maine (17-28-1, 8-9-1) is back in the tournament after missing out last season. The Black Bears locked up the fourth spot with a series opening win at Hartford Saturday. First-year head coach Lynn Coutts will try to lead the Black Bears, winners of six of their last eight games, to their first crown since 2004.
On Thursday, Boston U. will face Maine and Stony Brook will play Albany. Following Thursday's doubleheader, three games will be played Friday, while the championship game (games if necessary) will take place Saturday. Game times will be announced on Monday. Visit Championship Central for complete updates throughout the tournament.
2012 America East Softball Championship
At Boston University
Thursday, May 10
Game 1: No. 1 Boston U. vs. No. 4 Maine, 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Stony Brook vs. No. 3 Albany, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 11
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 1:30 p.m. (elimination game)
Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner, 4 p.m. (elimination game)
Saturday, May 12
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, 12 p.m. (championship game)
Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary)