Softball: Terriers continue hot streak, sweep weekend series against Lafayette

By Bobby Serafin 

Over the weekend, Boston University softball (19-13) soundly swept Lafayette (5-18) in its three-game series against the Leopards by a combined score of 28-2. None of the games went the full seven innings, with the first of the Saturday doubleheader concluding in just five frames.

While the weather remained cold for these weekend games, the Terriers stayed red hot as they’ve now won eight in a row and three to begin conference play.  

This level of dominance has always consistent against the Leopards, with BU now possessing an all-time record of 25-0 against the Easton, PA-based school. In those 25 games, Lafayette has never scored more than two runs in a single game. 

Junior pitcher Lizzy Avery was once again a workhorse, as she racked up 11 innings across her two starts in addition to 14 strikeouts. Avery also gave up only four hits and two earned runs.

Game 1: BU Defeats Lafayette 10-2

The first inning was full of Lafayette mistakes. After getting the first out, graduate outfielder Jen Horita reached first on an error by the Leopards shortstop Harlie Bickett. After a second throwing mistake brought Horita home, sophomore right fielder Lauren Keleher brought two runners home with a double. 

While the Leopards were able to keep the Terriers off the board for the next two innings, BU erupted with five runs in the fourth, which included two more off of a Keleher two-run smash that made it 8-0. Lafayette fought back by scraping across two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Terriers finished the job with another two-RBI hit from Keleher. 

It was a career day for the right fielder, as she compiled a career-high 6 RBIs, nearly doubling her total for the season. She also grabbed her first home run of the year.

Game 2: BU Defeats Lafayette 8-0

It took the Terriers just five innings to close out the second game of their Saturday doubleheader. While BU didn’t get the same start offensively as it did in the opener, junior pitcher Allison Boaz silenced the Lafayette hitters. 

Only giving up four hits over the five innings, Boaz picked up her 10th win of the season and kept her yearlong ERA under two. She didn’t allow more than one hit in a single inning until the final frame but finished the Saturday doubleheader off with two straight strikeouts.

On the hitting side of the contest, BU made it count in the third and fourth innings, tallying all eight of its runs in those two frames. Senior utility Emily Gant was the main catalyst for the Terriers, recording two hits and four RBIs on the day. The second of her two hits brought home runs seven and eight, which effectively put the game to bed. 

The top of the Terriers’ order was strong as usual, with junior third baseman Caitlin Coker and sophomore shortstop Kayla Roncin each scoring twice. BU was also strong on the base path, recording four stolen bases.

Game 3: BU Defeats Lafayette 10-0

The capper of this three-game set punctuated BU’s dominance in Easton. Avery, fresh off her first career no-hitter, almost had another one in her second appearance of the weekend. 

The Leopards were unable to get much of anything done against the pitcher with the best numbers so far for BU, only registering one hit and one walk over six innings of play. Their lone hit came in the first inning but Avery silenced the lineup the rest of the way. Locked in the entire weekend and demonstrating impressive control, the junior struck out six leopards.

Gant led the way this time, picking up three RBIs, including her second home run of the season. The Terriers weren’t done then, with Roncin also providing a long ball in the sixth. Both her and Gant collected three hits on the day, with the former now leading BU in hits on the season with 46.

The win improved Avery’s record to 9-8 while Morrigan Gardiner (0-5) picked up the loss for Lafayette. The Terriers now improve to 3-0 in Patriot League play.

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BU will look to make it nine straight victories as the Terriers head to Storrs, CT to take on a tough UConn Huskies team that’s won five straight. Wednesday’s first pitch is at 4 p.m.