UMBC

Melanie Denischuk had four hits in the doubleheader against Boston U.

Boston-In a battle of the top two softball teams in the America East, host Boston University (26-9, 10-2 America East) came out on top in a doubleheader against UMBC (26-12, 9-4 America East) at the BU Softball Field Saturday afternoon. The Terriers took the first game by a score of 2-1, then won game two, 9-7.

The Retrievers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning in game one on a one-out sacrifice fly by second baseman Dana Shepherd, following consecutive singles by shortstop Reilly Ward and right fielder Krista Kearns and a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Kristi Troster.

But Boston U. catcher Christy Leath singled to lead off the fourth and first baseman Rachel Hebert followed with a home run to center, giving the Terriers a 2-1 lead, which would be all they would need, as starting pitcher Megan Currier allowed just one UMBC hit the rest of the way.

Currier (13-2) went the distance to earn the victory, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks while striking out two.

UMBC starter Ashley Gray (15-5) suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six in the complete game.

Leath was the only batter for either team with two hits in the game, as she was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Game two was a different story, as the Terriers jumped on UMBC starter Amanda Fefel for seven runs in the first two innings, with two big blows coming in the form of a two-run double by designated player Megan Coughlin in the bottom of the first and a bases loaded triple by Hebert in the second.

But the Retrievers scored five times on six hits in the third, all with two outs. First baseman Melanie Denischuk and catcher Krissy Licursi each drove in two runs in the inning.

UMBC tied the score at 7-7 in the fourth and chased Currier from the game, as Shepherd hit a solo home run and Ward walked with the bases loaded.

But the Terriers regained the lead for good in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Hebert, and they got an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single by Hebert.

Fefel (10-3) went the distance in the loss, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and five walks while striking out five.

The second of three Terrier pitchers, Rachel Moeller (2-0), picked up the victory after pitching two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and five walks while striking out two. Currier started the game and gave up seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in 3.1 innings of work. Brittany Detwiler pitched the final 1.2 innings and gave up just one hit and one walk and struck out two without allowing a run.

Denischuk and center fielder Kali Shirk each went 3-for-4 at the plate, and Shepherd had two hits as well. Hebert had five RBI for the Terriers.

The teams meet again in the final game of the three-game series Sunday at 12 p.m.