Softball: Terriers Edges BC in Battle of Comm Ave
By Abigail Stocker
NEWTON, Mass. – The Boston University Softball Team (26-11) dominated Boston College (17-19) in the Battle of Commonwealth Avenue with a 3-1 victory Wednesday.
“We started a little bit slow … but I was just really impressed with seeing the game through,” BU Head Coach Ashley Waters said. “We picked it up and played a little bit sharper, a little bit better as the game went.”
Leading the charge for the Terriers was junior pitcher Kasey Ricard, who struck out six and allowed just four hits and a single unearned run in seven innings.
Ricard, who reached 600 career strikeouts earlier this season, was the difference-maker in the pitchers’ battle with Eagles’ pitcher Kelly Colleran.
“It’s always a great win to obviously beat a rival team that’s two miles down the road,” Waters said. “It’s also always a great win to have a midweek ACC team that plays really high caliber.”
The Eagles struck first in the opening frame. After a two-out walk to infielder Emma Jackson, a fielder’s choice brought her home to give BC a 1-0 lead. Ricard rebounded by closing out the inning with a strikeout.
BU struggled to capitalize early, leaving two runners stranded in both the second and third innings.
Junior infielder Megan Coyle and junior outfielder Aimee Metz reached, but BC’s defense shut down the Terriers without a run.
Both teams were quiet in the second inning.
Ricard continued to keep BC at bay, striking out outfielder Jordan Stephens and forcing outfielder Kali Case to ground out. Colleran responded by sending the Terriers down in order, and the game remained 1-0 in the Eagles’ favor.
The third inning provided the Terriers with another scoring chance.
Sophomore outfielder Kylie Doherty reached on a walk, and Coyle followed with a single, putting runners on second and third base with one out. Still, the Terriers could not push through the Eagle’s defense.
Ricard continued to lord it over at the bottom of the third inning, sending Eagles in succession back to the box.
Both offenses stayed quiet through the fourth, but the Terriers’ bats came alive in the fifth.
After sophomore infielder Libby Walsh reached on a fielder’s choice, Coyle singled to put runners on the corners.
With two outs, junior pitcher Olivia Delong stepped up with a game-tying RBI single to left field, scoring Walsh to make it 1-1.
The sixth inning turned into a showcase for both pitchers. Ricard remained dominant, retiring the side in order and preserving the tie.
Colleran responded with a solid inning of her own, though she surrendered a solo shot to BU freshman catcher Addie Lucier. Ricard was able to keep the Eagles at bay, producing two further flyouts and a strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, BU grabbed its first lead. With two outs and a runner on first base, Doherty delivered the knockout blow, launching a 3-1 pitch off the center field fence for a two-run homer.
In the bottom of the seventh, BC threatened with a leadoff single by infielder Janis Espinoza, but Ricard remained composed, retiring the next three batters to secure the win.
“The second that we took the lead … Kasey knew that she was going to find a way to execute and finish the job,” Waters said. “I’m really impressed with how she finished the seventh by just executing her pitches and getting some easy outs.”
The Terriers now return to home turf after a five-game road trip. They’ll host Sacred Heart University and face their first-ever Southeastern Conference opponent, University of Kentucky, in a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.
“We love being on our field, we love playing home, so we’re excited to get out there and get back to work,” Waters said.