Softball: Terriers open season, fall 0-4 in first tournament
By Hannah Yoshinaga
BU softball fell 0-4 in its season debut at the Green & Gold Classic in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday and Saturday, losing two games apiece to Notre Dame and Charlotte.
The Terriers suffered late-game losses in three of the four matchups, holding either a lead or tie heading into the final inning before allowing opponents to score game-ending runs.
Junior pitcher Lizzy Avery led with 13 strikeouts, including a five-strikeout performance against Charlotte on Saturday. Junior pitcher Allison Boaz followed suit with seven K’s on the weekend. Avery allowed seven runs on 11 hits in three appearances, while Boaz allowed four runs on eight hits in her own three showings.
Game 1: Notre Dame defeats BU 4-3
The Fighting Irish got on the board right away via a homer from center fielder Abby Sweet, a NFCA second-team All American selection last season. A third-inning error by Avery allowed right fielder Emma Clark to reach base and advance to second, giving pinch runner Emily Tran the opportunity to score.
Senior first baseman Nicole Amodio tied the game up with the Terriers’ first home run of the season in the fifth inning, also bringing home pinch hitter Audrey Sellers. Senior outfielder Jen Horita put BU in front with an RBI groundout later in the inning, giving the Terriers a 3-2 lead heading into the sixth.
Trouble came in the top of the seventh when Sweet homered again with Anna Holloway on base, putting the Fighting Irish back in the lead.
Shannon Becker closed the win for Notre Dame by holding BU scoreless in the final frame.
Game 2: Charlotte defeats BU 2-1
Boaz and 49ers pitcher Madelyn Wright remained locked in a pitchers’ duel through the first three innings.
BU got on the board first with an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Kayla Roncin, which scored freshman pinch runner Tyesha Williams.
However, right fielder Lindsey Walljasper put Charlotte on the board with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to tie up the score.
The Terriers held the tie through nearly three more innings before shortstop Cori Henderson walked it off with a double to score center fielder Lexi Wagner.
Game 3: Notre Dame defeats BU 8-0
The Fighting Irish quickly worked the score to 2-0 in the bottom of the first behind RBIs from left fielder Leea Hanks and designated player Sarah Genz. After an RBI double by Hanks scored Clark, an RBI single down the line by Genz brought home Hanks.
Notre Dame put up another multiple-run inning in the third. Hanks’ single scored Sweet, and first baseman Karina Gaskins’ deep double allowed both Hanks and Clark to run home.
A sixth-inning, three-run homer by Holloway in the sixth ended the game early in favor of the Fighting Irish.
Game 4: Charlotte defeats BU 4-1
Walljasper singled in the bottom of the first to score right fielder Bailey Vannoy, but a defensive play to throw out first baseman Kourtney Gremillion at second limited the damage to one run.
Neither team could get on the board until the top of the fifth, when senior pinch hitter Gant tripled to left center to score sophomore right fielder Lauren Keleher and bring the score to 1-1.
BU held Charlotte scoreless for the remainder of the first seven innings to push the game into extras, where the teams remained locked in a tie until the bottom of the ninth.
After pinch hitter Madelyn Wright walked and Henderson singled, Vannoy homered to put the game away for the 49ers.
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The Terriers travel to Athens, Ga. next weekend for a five-game stint in the Red & Black Showcase. BU will face Delaware, Purdue and home team Georgia, beginning with a 1 p.m. matchup against the Boilermakers on Friday.