Softball: BU Extends Win Streak With a Mercy Rule Victory Over Stonehill
By Bobby Serafin
BOSTON – The 23rd-ranked Boston University softball team (37-4) won their 10th straight contest, defeating Stonehill College (10-28) 11-1 in five innings on Thursday afternoon.
Following a victory over Harvard on Tuesday afternoon, the Patriot League leaders returned home to BU Softball Field to welcome an in-state foe in the Stonehill College Skyhawks for a non-conference battle. Today was the first matchup between these two teams since 1994.
It was an efficient victory for the Terriers, who recorded 11 runs on just seven hits. Sophomore infielder Brooke Deppiesse went 2 for 2 with her team-leading fifth triple of the season, while freshman outfielder Kylie Doherty racked up a game-high three RBIs. It was a team effort for BU head coach Ashley Waters’ group, as every BU starter reached base.
BU sent sophomore Kasey Ricard back to the mound after starting earlier in the week against Harvard. The right-hander retired the side, striking out the leadoff hitter before inducing two soft flyouts in her first look at the top of the Stonehill lineup.
Unlike on Tuesday, Ricard smoothly navigated the opposing lineup the first time through. The sophomore responded in this matchup, retiring the first nine Skyhawk batters she faced. A 77-pitch outing for number 77 gave the Mass. native her 18th win of the season.
The terriers exploded out of the gate in their first chance at the plate, racking up five runs off Stonehill starter Harper Sullivan. The freshman was handed her second loss of the season, only recording one out before being removed from the circle for fellow freshman Alex Hospodar.
While the rain made it difficult for Sullivan and the entire Stonehill staff to grip the ball and locate pitches, BU took full advantage. Senior outfielder Lauren Keleher opened the frame with her team-high 13th double before grad students Caitlin Coker and Lizzy Avery each walked to load the bases. That set the table for Doherty, who delivered a bases-clearing double that put the Terriers up 3-0 with her 28th, 29th and 30th RBI of the season.
BU didn’t stop there, as Deppiesse hustled for a triple that sent home Doherty to push the lead to four, forcing Stonehill to change pitchers. That failed to alter the game’s momentum, with the very next pitch getting away from catcher Isabella Therrien, allowing Deppiesse to sprint home, 5-0.
There was no response from the Skyhawks in either the second or third inning as Ricard continued her strong start, missing bats with her rising fastball and locating her offspeed pitches to generate weak contact that made life easy for the defense behind her despite the rough conditions.
The Terrier attack struck again for five runs in the bottom of the third, forcing Stonehill to change pitchers again. As the rain continued to come down, Hospodar walked two of the first three batters before Deppiesse came through with her second hit of the afternoon to crowd the bases.
Following a fielder’s choice that stopped the lead runner from scoring, grad student Allison Boaz singled to left, bringing home two more runners to give BU a touchdown advantage. A pinch-hit single from junior Tyesha Williams loaded the bases once more before senior infielder Kayla Roncin capped off the frame with a two-run single that extended the lead to 10-0.
The Skyhawks fought back in the fourth, with the first three batters reaching safely. The trio was capped off by a single from Sullivan, who re-entered the game after pitching earlier, putting the Skyhawks on the board. That would be all the consolation Stonehill would earn as the next batter hit into a double play, ending their brief rally.
That one run was matched by BU in the inning’s bottom half. After reaching on a walk, Coker stole two bases and then scored off a sacrifice fly from Reagan Kelly. It was the senior’s first RBI of the season, making it 11-1.
Due to NCAA rules, the game was ended prematurely after the fifth inning when the run deficit exceeded 10 runs or more. With the victory, BU maintains its undefeated record at home, now 8-0.
The Terriers will stay at home for their next series as they host Bucknell for a three-game set this weekend, with a chance to remain perfect in Patriot League play. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Saturday, April 20th.