Aug. 8, 2014
This summer, GoTerriers.com will once again count down the top 12 achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes from the previous year. Check back each Tuesday and Friday as we reveal this year's Terrier Twelve.
Coming in at No. 2 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the softball team eliminating AAC champion Louisville from the NCAA tournament in front of a primetime audience on ESPN after capturing the Patriot League title a week earlier. With the win over the Cardinals (watch replay here), the Terriers became the only No. 4 seed in the tournament to earn an NCAA victory.
The 2014 season was one of highs and lows, as second-year head coach Kathryn Gleason experienced growing pains early on with a squad featuring eight newcomers, two new assistant coaches and just four seniors. BU started the year 5-8 but then went 9-2 over the next 11 games to reach 14-10. However, the lows returned, and the Terriers found themselves at 19-18 and 4-4 in conference play on April 12.
The doubleheader loss to fellow Patriot League member Holy Cross that day proved to be a welcoming jolt for the Terriers. On April 13, they dominated the Crusaders, 11-1, for a five-inning run-rule victory to avoid a three-game sweep and to ignite a 13-game win streak.
Highlights of the streak included a pair of pitching gems. Sophomore Lauren Hynes one-hit Harvard in six innings of work to help snap the Crimson's 18-game win streak, and classmate Melanie Russell threw BU's eighth-ever perfect game in seven innings against Bucknell.
The Terriers carried the momentum into the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed. Senior first baseman Chelsea Kehr crushed a pair of homers to help lead BU to three wins and claim Tournament MVP accolades. She was joined by Russell, senior outfielder Jayme Mask and senior shortstop Brittany Clendenny on the All-Tournament Team.
Earning its second NCAA bid in three years with a 10-5 win over Bucknell, the Terriers were sent to the No. 11 Arizona Regional in Tucson. BU was considered a major underdog as the No. 4 seed in a regional featuring the Wildcats, No. 23 LSU and AAC champion Louisville.
Despite having to play three well-respected programs in their first-ever appearance on national TV, the Terriers showed plenty of resolve and determination. Kehr blasted a grand slam to pull even with Arizona at 4-4 before the nation's top-hitting offense got timely hits for the 9-6 win over BU.
The Terriers came back the following evening on ESPN with purpose, knowing they just missed out on an opportunity to shock a No. 1 seed. The Cardinals induced a ground out to start the game, but BU came back with five straight hits, including a two-RBI single by Kehr and three-run blast by junior Emily Felbaum, to grab a 5-0 lead. Freshman Gabi Martinez added another homer, and Russell stymied Louisville's bats for the 8-3 victory.
There was little time for celebration, as BU had to face No. 23 LSU in another elimination game. Clendenny hit a two-run homer to give the Terriers a 3-0 lead through five innings. The Tigers though took advantage of a costly BU error and rallied back with seven runs in the seventh to eliminate BU, 8-3. Despite the loss, the Terriers made lots of new fans through their performance on a national platform.
Other highlights of the season included Mask earning Academic All-America honors after breaking the school career record for stolen bases and runs scored while tying former All-American April Setterlund ('11) in career hits. Her classmate Clendenny also set a program record for RBIs in a season.
The Terrier Twelve
No. 3 - Women's Soccer Maintains Excellence in New League
No. 4 - Women's Ice Hockey Completes Three-Peat
No. 5 - Men's Basketball Rides Fast-Paced Offense to the NIT
No. 6 - Women's Rowing Returns to NCAAs with PL Title
No. 7 - Women's Tennis Ends Army's Reign at the Top
No. 8 - Peters Races to All-American Season
No. 9 - Men's Rowing Finishes Sixth at IRAs
No. 10 - Taffur Closes Out Great Career
No. 11 - Nasson Makes NCAA Debut
No. 12 - A New Era Begins
