Softball: Terriers Clinch 14-7 Victory in 15-Inning Contest Over Bucknell

By Grace Robbins

LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Boston University Softball Team (15-10, 1-0 PL) opened Patriot League play with a 15-inning marathon win over Bucknell (9-14, 0-1 PL) on Saturday.

Sophomore left fielder Kylie Doherty led the Terriers at the plate, going 4-for-8. Junior ace Kasey Ricard pitched to all 63 batters, striking out 17 and allowing only four earned runs on 13 hits and two walks. The win improved her record 10-6.

“This is who Kasey is, and this is who Kasey wants to be,” BU Head Coach Ashley Waters said. “When you play division one softball, the idea is to be on the field as much as possible, and she’s the type of kid that wants the ball.”

For the Bison, senior reliever Madison Roukey took the loss, falling to 3-9 on the season after giving up six earned runs on 11 hits and two walks in 8.1 innings.

The Terriers struck first in the opening inning, with Doherty scoring on a passed ball. Ricard set the tone early, striking out the side in the bottom half.

BU tacked on another run in the third inning when Doherty scored again on an RBI single by junior infielder Brooke Deppiesse, who was at second base.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Bison offense came to life. Catcher Reagan Powell started the inning with a single and later scored on an RBI triple by left fielder Ava Aguilar.

Aguilar came home on a fielder’s choice and an error by BU sophomore catcher Livia Christopher. Infielder Haley Speicher scored on an RBI double from shortstop Brooke Popella.

Popella then scored on an error by Ricard, putting the Bison up 4-2 after the third.

BU tied the game in the fifth on an RBI groundout by senior utility player Sydney Pecoraro and an RBI single by junior infielder Megan Coyle, who was at first base.

Roukey entered the game in relief in the 6th inning, and it settled into a pitcher’s duel between her and Ricard as neither hurler allowed any runs until the 14th inning.

The Bison threatened to walk the game off in the 12th with second baseman Bella Radican on third and Speicher on second.

However, Ricard flexed her command by striking out 3-hole batter MaKenzie Hilling looking and grounding out cleanup hitter Popella in a come-backer.

Doherty led off the 14th inning for the Terriers with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Deppiesse. Pecoraro was then hit by a pitch, with Ricard entering to pinch run for her.

Coyle then came up clutch, ripping a two-run double to the right-center gap to score both Doherty and Ricard. Walsh followed with an RBI triple, moving the Terriers on top 7-4.

Bucknell answered immediately. Radican and Aguilar singled ahead of Speicher, who doubled to score Radican and put Aguilar in scoring position.

Hilling then doubled after a nine-pitch battle with Ricard, scoring Aguilar and knotting the game back up at seven apiece. Ricard got out of the inning by inducing a pop-up and flyout.

In the top of the 15th, the Terriers’ bat opened the floodgates, plating seven runs to secure the win.

Apalit and Doherty singled before Deppiesse crushed a two-run double to right-center, giving BU a 9-7 lead and knocking Roukey out of the game. Sophomore reliever Sarah Zimmerman entered the game, but the Terriers kept rolling.

Pecoraro walked, and Coyle drove in two more with her second double of the day. Walsh then reached on an error in right field, allowing Coyle to score.

Williams singled to score Walsh, and Apalit, batting for the second time in the inning, added another base hit.

Zimmerman finally got out of the inning with a flyout from infielder Camryn Lyons.

Despite BU’s commanding lead, Waters said she was planning to switch pitchers but wanted Ricard “to get that win.”

“Kasey is incredible. She’s a really talented kid,” Waters said. “She finds ways to continuously get out and mix things up.”

Ricard induced a flyout, recorded her 17th strikeout of the game and forced a fielder’s choice to end the marathon contest in favor of the Terriers.

“Us not wavering and keeping our mind on one pitch at a time, one batter at a time … we were able to pull that one out,” Waters said.

With the unexpected length of this game, the originally scheduled doubleheader was pushed to Sunday. BU and Bucknell will now play two games, with first pitch set for 11 a.m. in Lewisburg.