Terriers Take Two of Three from Bucknell, But See Win Steak End on Senior Day
By: Brian Lombardo
BOSTON — After going on a tear that began with the start of Patriot League play, the Terrier softball team’s incredible win streak came to an end after fifteen games.
Coach Ashley Waters had her team playing at the highest level for the entire month of April. The Terriers had been winners of five straight Patriot League series, boasting a 10-2 Patriot League record – they are 33-18 overall.
The Terriers hosted the Bucknell Bison this weekend in a three-game series at the BU softball field. The Bison are another one of the Patriot League’s top teams with a 25-18 record and an impressive 12-3 record in conference play. Factoring in this weekend’s series, the Terriers’ April record was an astonishing 17-2.
Saturday featured a doubleheader followed by a single game on Sunday afternoon.
Game one of the series was a complete team effort from the pitching staff. Ali Dubois, Lizzie Annerino, Kali Magane and Cali Dolfi all pitched in the game, but Annerino received the win after two full innings of work where the Terrier offense made some noise.
The Terrier bats were ready to go early as the team put up multiple runs in the first three innings. Alex Heinen provided the offense in the first inning with a triple to score Emma Wong, before coming home herself on a passed ball on the next batter. Heinen would add another RBI in the second.
Brittany Younan also provided the Terriers with two RBIs. The big hits by team leadership were enough to bring the Terriers to an easy 8-4 victory. Dolfi picked up the unorthodox save by pitching 3.2 innings of relief.
Game two was a different story, offensively, for the Terriers. The game went scoreless into the seventh inning. The Terriers only managed three hits before the final frame, but Dubois was stellar holding the Bison to two hits.
In the final inning it was the junior Emily Morrow’s big moment. A walk-off homer provided the heroics, and brought the Terriers’ win streak to 15 games. Dubois posted a stellar line of work, going seven innings (99 pitches) allowing two hits, with one walk and three strikeouts. Her record on the season improved to 23-6.
The team came back Sunday looking to sweep their fourth consecutive Patriot League series and keep their fun going. Sunday’s contest was similar to Saturday’s second game, a pitchers’ duel. The Terriers called upon Dubois to once again slam the door shut in the game, but the Bison pitching staff was matching.
An early homer in the top of the second gave Bucknell the lead. The Terriers managed eight hits in the game, but the team’s lone run came in the fifth when Jilee Schanda tripled to score Madi Killebrew and bring the game to a 1-1 tie. The game would remain that way after seven, and the teams would head to an extra frame.
As the NCAA softball rules state, in extra innings both teams begin with a runner in scoring position. Unfortunately for the Terriers, that runner ended up costing them the game. After moving the runner from second to third, a passed ball brought home the decisive run for Bucknell, bringing an end to the Terriers’ burning-hot month of April.