Game 3- Boston U. 3, Hartford 2 Box Score
Junior Robyn Horrick extended her streak of consecutive innings without allowing a hit to 10 and sophomore Nichole Kurker had a single to drive in two runs as top-seeded Boston University defeated No. 2 seed Hartford, 3-2, at Post Field to advance to the America East Softball Championship game.
The Terriers, 27-21, advance to Saturday's Championship game. The Hawks, 23-14-1, will play an elimination game vs. the winner of the Maine-Albany game, at 4 p.m. today.
Horrick, who pitched a no-hitter in the 3-0 win over Albany on Thursday in the opening game of the four-team, double-elimination tournament, came on in relief of starter Julie Henneke and struck out six and walked three in earning her first save since 2000. Henneke (9-4) allowed two runs on three hits, striking out eight and walking two.
Kurker broke a 1-1 tie in the third inning with a one-out single up the middle to score Jamie Haas and Abbey Pauley, who had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning.
The Hawks pulled within 3-2 in the fourth inning when Bryn Weller was issued a two-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kim Schwimmer's single put runners on the corners and Henneke issued her second wild pitch of the inning to score Weller before striking out Monica Hayes to end the rally.
The Terriers had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Haas, the America East Player of the Year, doubled to left to start the inning and advanced to third when Pauley singled through the left side of the infield. Henneke then bunted and reached on a fielder's choice when the Hawks were unable to get Haas at the plate.
Hartford tied it in the bottom of the first when Ryan Williams led off with an infield single, advanced to second on a passed ball and was sacrificed to third. Liz Nadeau tripled to left center to score Williams before Henneke struck out Monica Evrard and Amy Sullivan to end the inning.
The Hawks had two opportunities to tie in the fifth and sixth innings. Nadeau worked a two-out walk in the fifth and stole second, but Horrick got Evrard to strike out swinging. Walks to Liz Borawski and Weller sandwiched around a sacrifice, gave the Hawks runners at first and second with one out in the sixth. But Horrick struck out Schwimmer and Hayes to thwart that rally. She then retired the side in order in the seventh.
Nadeau (9-8) allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking four for the Hawks.
Haas, who was 2-for-4, raised her conference leading average to .412.
The winner of the America East Championship receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The Terriers, who were America East Champions in 1993, 1996 and 1997, made their only appearance in the NCAA Championship in 1996.