May 3, 1998

NOTRE DAME, Ind.-- Boston College defeated the University of Connecticut, 6-1, at the University of Notre Dame's Ivy Field, to win its second consecutive BIG EAST softball championship. Sophomore Chris Vicari was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player after 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 recorded 17 putouts at first base.

The Eagles earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship that begins 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 Amanda Young scored on a single by Jessica Yanosy. Boston College answered with two runs in the fifth inning and added one more in the seventh to register the 6-1 victory.

Mary Dietz recorded six strikeouts and improved her record to 16-5. The sophomore pitcher allowed only three hits in the championship game, 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.

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

Boston College 6, University of Connecticut 1

Boston College (38-12-1)    3   0   0   0   2   0   1-  6   8   0
Connecticut (24-21-1)       0   0   1   0   0   0   0-  1   3   0

WP:  Mary Dietz (16-5)      LP:   Megan Biddle (11-6)