Softball: Terriers top Lehigh in first Patriot League series

By: Hannah Yoshinaga

Boston University softball swept its double-header against Lehigh University Saturday in its first conference series of the season. The Terriers (13-1, 2-0 PL) beat the Mountain Hawks 16-0 in five innings in game one and took game two by a score of 1-0.

Game 1

An RBI single by right fielder Lauren Keleher brought home third baseman Caitlin Coker in the first inning to put the Terriers on the board. Following a series of errors and wild pitches by the Mountain Hawks, the Terriers extended their lead to 5-0 with Keleher, AJ Huerta-Leipner, Emily Gant and Nicole Amodio coming in to score.

After starting pitcher Ali DuBois kept the Mountain Hawks scoreless in the bottom of the first, BU opened up the game with a 9-0 second inning. A single by Huerta-Leipner scored two runs, and two subsequent RBIs by Gant and left fielder Jen Horita brought home two more.

With the bases loaded, shortstop Patricia Dun walked to score another run before Coker knocked in a two-run single.

Pinch hitter Lauren Nett’s third-inning single scored the Terriers’ final two runs of the game, bringing in Gant and pinch-runner Alison Boaz.

DuBois allowed only two hits all afternoon and struck out two batters. The victory was her ninth of the year.

“I thought we came out really, really strong in the first game, and we talked about making a statement before the game, that was our pre-game goal, and I think we really came out and did that,” Coker said. “We sort of just stepped on the gas pedal and didn’t let up.”

Game 2

Boaz started game two and led the Terriers with a shutout victory, protecting a 1-0 lead for seven innings to pick up her fourth win of the season.

The Terriers scored their only run of the game on a first-inning run from Coker. Coker advanced to second on a sacrifice fly from Keleher and reached third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly from Huerta-Leipner allowed her to score.

“Ali B. pitched a great game and I’m so proud of our defense picking her up, our offense just getting the job done,” Coker said.

Looking Ahead

With the two wins, the Terriers extended their win streak to 12 games. The team’s Sunday double-header against Lehigh was postponed due to anticipated inclement weather, but the Terriers will face off against Colgate University at home for a four-game series next weekend.