Softball: Up-and-down offense leads to 2-3 Terrier finish in Louisville Slugger Tournament
By Hannah Yoshinaga
Boston University softball finished 2-3 in its last non-conference tournament of the season Saturday after the Terrier offense put on an up-and-down performance throughout the weekend. While BU successfully topped Sacramento State and host Long Beach State, the Terriers struggled to put runs on the board against UCF, Iowa State and Nebraska.
Junior pitcher Allison Boaz threw a complete game against Long Beach State and recorded all but one out of the Terriers’ win against Sacramento State, allowing only two earned runs combined between the two contests. Despite having a rough, six-earned-run performance against Iowa State, Boaz bounced back against Nebraska the following day in a one-run, 4.1 inning outing.
Junior pitcher Lizzy Avery allowed four earned runs each in her outings against UCF and Nebraska, both losses for BU. However, Avery did not give up a run in 3.2 innings against Iowa State and later closed out BU’s win against Sacramento State.
Game 1: BU defeats Long Beach State 7-2
The Terriers put up two runs early in the first on an RBI single by senior designated player Emily Gant that scored senior first baseman Nicole Amodio and junior third baseman Caitlin Coker.
LBSU quickly cut into the deficit in the bottom of the inning, scoring right fielder Corissa Sweet on an RBI single by shortstop Marissa Caballero.
In the second, the Terriers padded their lead when a fielding error by LBSU allowed Coker to reach base and junior catcher Audrey Sellers to score. Coker reached home later in the inning on a left-field double by sophomore shortstop Kayla Roncin.
BU added three more runs in the fourth on Roncin’s RBI single that scored Coker and graduate left fielder Jen Horita. A subsequent RBI single by Amodio brought Roncin around the bases.
LBSU managed one more run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by third baseman Ashleigh Inae that scored Sweet.
Game 2: UCF defeats BU 6-2
BU’s offense got off to a strong start to open the first, with the Terriers recording two runs on RBI singles by Roncin and sophomore right fielder Lauren Keleher.
However, the Terriers remained scoreless for the remainder of the matchup, recording only two hits the rest of the game and ultimately leaving six on base.
The Knights did the majority of their damage in the second inning, during which they scored four runs. Right fielder Denali Schappacher singled to score designated player Allyse Volpe and later advanced on a wild pitch that also allowed left fielder Maddie Bejarano to reach home. Schappacher came around to score on an RBI groundout by shortstop Micaela Macario, and a throwing error by Roncin allowed second baseman Justene Molina to score.
UCF added two more runs in the fifth when first baseman Shannon Doherty walked in a run and third baseman Kennedy Searcy scored on a passed ball.
Game 3: Iowa State defeats BU 6-0
The Terrier offense sputtered again versus the Cyclones, recording six hits but leaving six on base.
Iowa State center fielder Skyler Ramos recorded two RBI against the Terriers, scoring left fielder Carli Spelhaug on a groundout in the second and shortstop Alesia Ranches on a single in the third.
Cyclones first baseman Angelina Allen added Iowa State’s first run of the game on a double down the right-field line in the first, which brought Spelhaug home. Third baseman Kaylee Pond also walked in a run later in the first inning.
Game 4: Nebraska defeats BU 5-2
The Terriers opened up an early lead against the Cornhuskers on a two-run homer by senior second baseman AJ Huerta-Leipner in the second.
Nebraska recorded its first run of the game in the fourth on an RBI single by center fielder Brooke Andrews that scored pinch runner Camyl Armendariz.
The Cornhuskers recorded four more runs in the sixth on home runs by right fielder Peyton Glatter, Brooke Andrews, and shortstop Billie Andrews.
Game 5: BU defeats Sacramento State 6-4
BU’s offense appeared to be in trouble yet again early in the game against Sacramento State when the Terriers were unable to score in the first two innings. The Hornets also quickly built a lead of their own in the bottom of the first after putting multiple runners on base, eventually bringing runs around on singles by first baseman Alondra Mejia and shortstop Nikki Barboza.
However, the Terriers kicked into high gear in the third, leveling the score on an error that scored freshman left fielder Tyesha Williams and Keleher. Later in the inning, Coker tripled to center to bring Horita and Roncin home and give BU a 4-2 advantage.
Williams recorded an RBI of her own when she singled in Gant in the fourth. Gant scored another run in the sixth while the Hornets threw out Keleher at second base.
Sacramento State threatened a comeback late in the game after second baseman Riley Gresham recorded an RBI sac fly in the sixth and third baseman Lewa Day homered in the seventh, but was unable to complete the effort.
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The Terriers return to Boston for two games against Merrimack College on Tuesday in their home opener. The first contest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.