Softball: BU’s Home Win Over PC Extends Streak to Four

BOSTON – The No. 21/24 ranked Boston University softball team (31-4) extended their current win streak to four after a 5-4 home victory against Providence College (14-18) Tuesday afternoon.

Riding a series sweep this past weekend against Colgate, the top team in the Patriot League returned to Allston after a nine-game road trip to host the Friars for a non-conference tilt.

Graduate pitcher Lizzy Avery got the start for the Terriers and opened up the game with two quick strikeouts against the top of the Friars’ rotation. After letting up back-to-back singles, Avery escaped the jam with a third strikeout to strand two PC runners on base.

The Terriers were unable to respond in the bottom of the frame.

PC starter Jessica Walter earned a strikeout against senior outfielder Lauren Keleher – current Patriot League batting average and OPS leader – to begin her start in the second. Senior Kayla Roncin made hard contact on a line out to Friars shortstop Rachael Petrarca the following at-bat, and a Caitlin Coker fly out to center wrapped up the one-two-three inning for PC.

The Frias were hitless in the second. A flyout and a pop-up set up Avery to close out the inning with her third strikeout on the day. BU’s starter complemented a solid start in the circle with excellent play at the plate, hitting a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning to give the Terriers an offensive spark.

Walter rebounded quickly, sitting down freshman outfielder Kylie Doherty and sophomore infielder Brooke Deppiesse with two straight strikeouts. Senior infielder Kate Pryor knocked a base hit to move Avery into scoring position before graduate pitcher Allison Boaz connected on a double to left to put BU up one.

The Terriers failed to build on their lead. Walter earned her fourth strikeout on the day the following at-bat, leaving two runs on base for the home team.

In the top of the third, Avery began strong with a three-pitch strikeout but was pulled from the game after allowing a pair of singles, ending her 40-pitch outing. Sophomore Kasey Ricard replaced her in the circle.

After a sacrifice flyout moved the two Friars runners into scoring position, a ground ball single from senior catcher Jacque Harrington evened the game at one apiece. An infield error the following at-bat sent home another run to put PC up 2-1 before a walk from Ricard loaded the bases.

Facing a jam with two outs, the current Patriot League ERA, opposing batting average, and total strikeouts leader delivered a clutch strikeout to escape the third fairly unscathed.

BU didn’t take long to answer at the plate.

Following a pop-up to begin the frame, Roncin struck a base hit and was later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Facing two outs following a lineout the previous at-bat, Avery continued to have a productive batting day, hitting an RBI single to tie the ball game.

Doherty kept the momentum going with a single to put two on base for the Terriers, but a Deppiesse fly out to left center ended BU’s hopes of driving in the go-ahead run.

Evened with BU again, PC struggled to rally at the plate. The Friars were gifted two walks from Ricard, who returned to the circle to start the fourth inning. But they also batted into two outs before Ricard was pulled from the game in favor of graduate Allison Boaz, who promptly pitched an inning-ending strikeout.

With a chance of retaking the lead, Pryor batted a lead-off single that preceded a Boaz two-run moonshot to center field, putting BU up by two. After allowing a single to Junior pinch hitter Tyesha Williams, Walter’s start came to an end as PC junior Riley stepped into the circle to relief pitch.

The Terriers tacked on one more run before the end of the frame thanks to an RBI base hit from Avery, completing her perfect 3-3 batting outing.

Ahead 5-2 in the top of the fifth, the Terriers’ defensive miscues gave the Friars a lifeline. Boaz opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch but put a PC runner on base. After notching the second strikeout of her relief outing, Boaz advanced the runner with a wild pitch, setting up PC’s Petrarca to smack an RBI double to left to cut BU’s lead down to two.

However, it was too little too late for the Friars. Although runners managed to get on base in each of the last two innings thanks to a walk and an infield error, PC’s third run would be their last as Boaz threw two hitless innings to seal the 5-4 BU victory.

The Terriers will remain at home to host UMass Amherst (11-23) in another non-conference match Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.