Softball: BU Extends Winning Streak, Sweeps Merrimack in Doubleheader
By Jose Rodriguez
BOSTON — The Boston University Softball Team (19-10) extended its winning streak to seven games after sweeping Merrimack College (4-14) in a doubleheader Tuesday.
In the first game, BU junior pitcher Kasey Ricard threw a complete-game shutout with 14 strikeouts, leading the Terriers to a 7-0 victory. Ricard improved her record to 12-6, as she allowed only two hits, walked two batters and struck out 14.
Merrimack’s pitcher Anna Gedacht took the loss, surrendering six hits and five earned runs over five innings while walking five batters and striking out one.
The Terriers took an early lead in the first inning.
Sophomore outfielder Kylie Doherty walked, and junior outfielder Brooke Deppiesse — fresh off earning Patriot League Player of the Week — singled to left field, putting runners on the corners.
Deppiesse stole second base before senior utility player Sydney Pecararo doubled to left, giving the Terriers a two-run advantage.
Merrimack put pressure on BU in the second inning, putting two runners on with two outs, but Ricard struck out outfielder Eva Issitt to escape the jam. Ricard recorded all three outs in the inning via strikeout and fanned five of the first six batters she faced.
BU was eager to press their advantage in the fourth, as sophomore infielder Libby Walsh ignited their hopes with a single to right field. Junior utility player Amiee Metz followed suit by walking, placing two runners on base with one out.
However, the Terriers struggled to capitalize. Sophomore utility player Kyomi Apalit reached on a fielder’s choice, but junior pinch hitter Olivia DeLong flew out to second baseman Thiana Brito, stranding two runners.
“Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t work out,” BU Head Coach Ashley Waters said. “For us, it is just producing and swinging the bats.”
BU broke through in the fifth, when Doherty led off with a solo home run down the right-field line — her sixth of the season — extending the lead to 3-0.
Later in the inning, Walsh stepped up again with two outs and runners in scoring position, delivering a two-run double to make it 5-0.
The Terriers tacked on two more runs in the sixth to seal the 7-0 victory.
BU carried the momentum into the second game, erupting for four runs in the first inning en route to an 8-0 win to complete the sweep.
Freshman pitcher Ava Johnson earned the victory, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five over five shutout innings.
For the Warriors, Palyon took the loss once again, dropping to 1-2 in the season and allowing six earned runs, walking three and striking out just one batter.
Doherty wasted no time putting BU on the board, launching a leadoff home run to left on a 2-1 pitch—her seventh of the season.
“The second game is a good momentum starter,” Doherty said. “It’s always hard to play a team twice, so being able to get on the board early in the game is really exciting.”
Deppiesse followed with a single and stole second before BU loaded the bases with back-to-back walks.
Junior utility player Aimee Metz drew another walk to force in a run, and freshman catcher Addie Lucier delivered a two-run double to center, capping a four-run first inning.
“For us, it’s really important to score early,” Doherty said. “When we score in the first inning, we tend to play a lot better, so I think just getting that home run in the second game was a momentum starter.”
In the bottom of the inning, Merrimack infielder Ellen Hubbard doubled to right and advanced to third on Issitt’s sacrifice bunt, but Johnson retired the next two batters to keep the Warriors scoreless.
BU kept rolling in the second as Deppiesse crushed a solo home run — her fifth of the season — to extend the lead to 5-0. Walsh added a solo homer in the third, making it 6-0.
The Terriers put the game away in the fifth, scoring two more runs to secure the mercy-rule victory.
Deppiesse and Lucier recorded multi-hit games in the second matchup, while Doherty and Walsh each added a hit. For Merrimack, Hubbard had a multi-hit game, and Caity Lemay notched a hit.
BU will look to continue its winning streak when it hosts Colgate for a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12 p.m.