Softball: Terriers Sweep Bryant During Wednesday’s Doubleheader

By Abigail Stocker

BOSTON – The Boston University Softball Team (33-17, 11-4 PL) swept Bryant University (16-29, 8-9 AE) in a doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Terriers opened the series with a 2-1 win, relying on early offense and a strong showing from junior pitcher Kasey Ricard, who entered the game with a 2.11 ERA.

“Everyone’s working to just move forward and get a little bit better every single day and try to relax and just play softball,” said BU Head Coach Ashley Waters.

Ricard set the tone early, striking out back-to-back batters and forcing a foul out to start the first inning. But the bottom of the first was quiet for the Terriers, with sophomore outfielder Kylie Doherty grounding out, junior infielder Brooke Deppiesse popping one and junior infielder Megan Coyle striking out. 

Bryant threatened in the second when Ricard walked infielder Bryce Clendenin. Catcher McKenzie McAloon grounded out to third, advancing Clendenin to second, but Ricard shut down the inning with two strikeouts.

BU’s offense came alive in the bottom of the second. Freshman outfielder Camryn Lyons doubled to left field, and sophomore outfielder Sophie Naivar drew a walk. Freshman catcher Addie Lucier grounded out to first, moving both runners into scoring position. 

Sophomore infielder Kyomi Apalit then doubled to right-center, scoring both Lyons and Naivar. Apalit was called out at second for obstruction, ending the inning with BU up 2-0. 

Neither team generated momentum in the third. Likewise, in the fourth, Naivar doubled to center after Bryant mishandled the ball, but the Terriers couldn’t capitalize.

The fifth inning started with a single from McAloon. Pinch runner Arlisenny Rodriguez was picked off at first after a long lead, and Bryant’s offense ended the inning quietly. 

BU failed to record a hit in the bottom half of the fifth inning. 

Ricard and the Terrier defense shut out Bryant in the sixth. BU stranded a runner after Coyle singled but was left on base.

Bryant mounted a final push in the seventh. Infielder Sam Rohwer doubled to left-center and advanced to third on a bunt from infielder Meaghan Houk. 

Clendenin followed with a grounder that brought Rohwer home, cutting BU’s lead to 2-1. McAloon then lined out to center field to end the game.

A few hours later, the Terriers completed the doubleheader sweep, after a clutch seventh-inning rally and a game-winning hit by Coyle. 

Freshman pitcher Danika Nell, who entered with a 3.84 ERA, started in the circle for the Terriers. Bryant countered with Lexi Powell, who came in with a 5.39 ERA.

After a scoreless first inning, Bryant struck first in the top of the second. Clendenin singled to shortstop, and Nell walked infielder Alexis Larrow. Catcher Gracie Bishop laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners. 

A single from utility player Laniya Lewis brought Clendenin home, giving Bryant a 1-0 lead. 

Soon after, Larrow reached third and Lewis stole second, but both were stranded after Nell struck out outfielder Makenna Coleman to end the inning.

The Terriers responded in the bottom half of the second inning. Naivar drew a walk, and sophomore catcher Livia Christopher followed with a single down the right-field line, sending Naivar to third.

Apalit kept the momentum going, hitting another single to right, driving in Naivar to tie the game. 

Bryant’s offense continued their pressure in the fourth. Larrow singled and was replaced by pinch runner Jaelynn Lee. 

Bishop singled to right-center, moving Lee to third. Bishop then stole second. Lee scored on a single from Lewis, helped by a throwing error from BU’s shortstop, putting Bryant up 2-1. 

Nell ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts to limit the damage.

The Terriers responded once again. Naivar singled, and Christopher followed with her second hit of the day. 

Pinch runner Lauren Williams replaced Naivar, and junior pitcher Olivia DeLong delivered a single to score Williams and tie the game. 

The inning ended with the game still knotted after Doherty grounded out to short.

“We didn’t allow the snowball effect, which, to me, is an error on top of an error with a hit,” Waters said of the team’s ability to recover from the earlier fielding mistake

BU shut out Bryant in the fifth, and the Bulldogs made a pitching change, bringing in freshman Maddy Wachter, who entered with a 3.67 ERA. Neither team could get a runner across in the fifth or sixth.

Nell held strong in the circle, finishing the top of the seventh with three straight strikeouts.

Tension built in the bottom of the seventh inning. Apalit led off with a double to center. After a strikeout from infielder Caitlin Walsh, Doherty singled to left-center. Apalit was thrown out at third trying to advance. 

BU refused to back down. Deppiesse singled, putting runners on first and second.

Then came Coyle’s game-winning hit – she lined a single to center field, bringing Doherty home and sealing the 3-2 walk-off win for the Terriers.

“[I’m] really proud of the fight, and we just need to play looser and play cleaner, which is two really different things, but you got to figure it out,” Waters said. 

Seven different Terriers recorded hits in the win, including Apalit and Deppiesse, who each delivered key offensive contributions.

The doubleheader marked the end of the regular season for Bryant. BU will wrap up its regular season this weekend with a three-game series at home against Lafayette.