Softball: Terriers Stumble in San Diego

Last weekend was one to  forget for the Boston University Softball team, which fell in four of five matchups in the San Diego Classic. The Terriers (6-8) went into the tournament a game over .500, only to be outscored 32-13 and shutout twice in California.

In their first contest, against San Jose State University, the Terriers rallied from a six-run deficit only to see their comeback cut short with the tying run on second in the bottom of the seventh.

The Spartans jumped out to an early lead, striking for three runs in each of the first two frames. Brittany Abacherli opened the scoring for SJSU just three batters into the bottom of the first when she uncorked a homerun to right-center off of BU’s Kali Magane (3-3). San Jose State would go on to add two more runs in the inning thanks to an RBI single by Cassidy Clark.

The Terriers would surrender another trio of runs the following inning as the Spartans came around to score on three consecutive batters. Abacherli started things off with an RBI single after back-to-back walks led off the bottom of the second. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Madison Aurin brought home another run before a throwing error by BU’s Kaitlin Sahlinger allowed Abacherli to score on the following at-bat.

The scarlet and white responded with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the third. Speedster Moriah Connolly came around on a throwing error after catcher Alexandra Luna tried to gun her down stealing second. Three batters later, Emma Wong trotted home after a single down the left field line by teammate Gabi Martinez.

BU’s rally would not end there, as they put up three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back leadoff doubles scored Kaitlin Sahlinger before Connolly’s single put runners on the corners two batters later. Down to their final out, the Terriers stretched across a pair after Alex Heinen reached on a throwing error, scoring both runners on base. After Heinen was lifted for a pinch runner, the BU comeback would be short lived as Martinez grounded out to end the contest.

Games 2 and 3 were not as kind to the Terriers, who were blanked in both contests by a combined 17-0.

Against San Diego State, Terrier pitcher Sydni Overly (0-2) was roughed up for six earned runs, including a first inning grand slam by senior Sydnee Cable in a 9-0 BU loss. Cable would also drive in two with an RBI double in the third, finishing the contest with a whopping six RBI on two hits.

The following day, the Terriers again lost in a shortened game, this time falling 8-0 to Brigham Young University. Freshman Lizzie Annerino (0-1) kept the Cougars off the board in the first two innings, but ran into trouble in the third. After walking in a run, Annerino gave up the second grand slam against the Terriers in as many games.

BYU added four more runs across the next two innings to hand the scarlet and white their second consecutive shutout loss.

However, the Terriers were quick to move past their trio of losses, as they took on the University of San Diego on Saturday evening in the second game of their double-header.

Makina Akers (3-1) and USD pitcher Megan Sabbatini dueled back and forth across the first five innings, with neither pitcher conceding a run. Finally, in the top of the sixth, the Terriers got on the board.

With two outs and a runner on second, Alexa Ponce stroked an RBI single to score Connolly and give BU the lead. The Terriers followed Ponce’s drive up with back-to-back singles, pushing across two more runs. Overly retired the side in both the sixth and the seventh to preserve the win for BU.

On Sunday, the Terriers looked to salvage the trip, but came up short in a 9-5 loss to Miami of Ohio. Building a 3-0 lead across the first six innings, the Terriers looked to be in control before the Redhawks exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth. Three of Miami’s runs came on RBI singles before a double and a three-run homer put the Redhawks up for good.

Alex Heinen crushed a two-run homerun to left in the top of the seventh, but BU was unable to complete the comeback.

Next, the Terriers square off with Loyola Marymount in a Tuesday double-header before heading to the Long Beach State Tournament, which kicks off on Thursday afternoon.