May 3, 1998

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Boston College defeated Connecticut, 6-1, to win its second consecutive BIG EAST Softball Championship at the University of Notre Dame’s Ivy Field. Sophomore Chris Vicari’s play on both sides of the field earned her Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. She hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the championship game, for a 1.000 tournament slugging percentage. Vicari drove in five runs in three games and was flawless in the field, recording 17 putouts at first base. With the win, Boston College, 38-12-1 overall, earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, beginning on May 15.

The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Vicari’s home run. Connecticut threatened in the third when a single by Jessica Yanosy brought home Amanda Young. Boston College answered with two runs in the fifth and added one more in the seventh to take the 6-1 victory. Mary Dietz quieted the Husky bats after the third, striking out six batters and improving her record to 16-5. She allowed only three hits on the day and six during the tournament for a 0.45 ERA. Gretchen Thompson was 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI while Jennifer Perrotta was 2-for-4 with one run scored for the Eagles.

Connecticut advanced to the championship game with a 15-0 defeat of Rutgers in game five of the championship. The Huskies exploded for a nine-run first inning, highlighted by a grand slam by Yanosy. Connecticut scored three runs in the third and three in the fifth, setting a BIG EAST Championship record for runs in a game. Eight different Connecticut players combined for 15 hits. Mandy Simjian, Alison Hirsch and Megan Biddle drove in two runs apiece. Biddle also earned the win on the mound, her 11th of the season. Rutgers finished the season with a 25-22 record. Following their loss to Boston College, the Huskies stand at 24-21-1 overall.

1998 BIG EAST SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ivy Field, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

Game 5 - University of Notre Dame, Ivy Field, 10 a.m.                                                  R   H   E     Connecticut (24-20-1)          9 0 3   0 3   -   15  15   0Rutgers (25-22)                0 0 0   0 0   -   0    6   2 WP - Megan Biddle (11-5)LP - Jaime Feaster (6-6)
Game 6 - University of Notre Dame, Ivy Field, 12:40 p.m.                                                     R   H   EBoston College (38-12-1)    3 0 0    0 2 0   1   -   6   8   0Connecticut (24-21-1)       0 0 1    0 0 0   0   -   1   3   0WP - Mary Dietz (16-5)LP - Biddle (11-6)