Softball: BU defeats Providence after strong third inning

By Hannah Yoshinaga 

One inning was all it took for Boston University softball to beat Providence College on Sunday, ending with a final score of 3-1 after posting all of its runs in the third inning.

With their victory over the Friars (21-11, 8-4 Big East), the Terriers (26-13, 6-0 PL) extended their win streak to 15 games and maintained their first-place standing in the Patriot League.

BU put runners in scoring position in the first two innings, with sophomore right fielder Lauren Keleher and senior second baseman AJ Huerta-Leipner each reaching second with only one out. Yet, two strikeouts, a flyout, and a groundout later, the Terriers entered the third scoreless.

Providence threatened in the top of the inning after center fielder Elysia Cunnigan reached on a throwing error by BU and catcher Jacque Harrington subsequently got to first on a fielder’s choice. Singles by shortstop Rachael Petrarca and pitcher Tori Grifone allowed Harrington to advance to third and attempt to reach home. Harrington never made it, however, after a laser from Keleher to junior catcher Audrey Sellers stopped her at the plate and ended the inning.

The Terriers did damage of their own in the bottom of the third, starting with a double by Keleher and a single by sophomore shortstop Kayla Roncin that allowed Keleher to make it to third base.

Two batters later, graduate center fielder Jen Horita tripled to score Keleher and Roncin, who had stolen second during the previous at-bat. A one-out popup by senior first baseman Nicole Amodio brought Horita home.

The Friars threatened again in the fifth after right fielder Micaela Abbatine started off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior pitcher Allison Boaz walked pinch hitter Gabriella Sebastian on four straight balls in the next at-bat. Sebastian reached second on a BU error — the second of the afternoon committed by Roncin — that also allowed Abbatine to score.

Boaz worked her way out of the jam, but not before giving up a single to Harrington that put Sebastian 60 feet from home.

Providence was unable to make up the deficit in the sixth and seventh innings, with no runner ever advancing past first.

Boaz finished with one run allowed and seven strikeouts, tying the season-high K total she recorded last week against Harvard.

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BU takes the field on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against UMass, the team’s second-to-last non-conference matchup of the regular season.