Softball: Terriers Fall to No. 2 Oklahoma in NCAA Tournament Opener

By Grace Robbins

NORMAN, Okla. – The Boston University Softball Team (39-18) used four different pitchers in the NCAA Tournament opener against No. 2 Oklahoma (46-7) Friday, but the defending national champions erupted for eight runs on seven hits to secure an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings.

“Tough day for us obviously,” said BU Head Coach Ashley Waters. “We just tried to switch up [pitching] and find someone who could keep them at bay.” 

Despite the adjustments in the circle, the Sooners’ lineup flexed its depth and power, handing the Terriers a tough opening loss in regional play.

Junior pitcher Kasey Ricard took the loss for BU, giving up five earned runs on four hits while striking out three in just over one inning of work. 

Offensively, BU managed just three hits — one each from junior infielder Brooke Deppiesse, senior outfielder Tyesha Williams and sophomore catcher Livia Christopher.

The Terriers threatened early against Sooner starter Sam Landry, putting two runners on in the first inning. Freshman outfielder Camryn Lyons was hit by a pitch after crowding the plate to counter Landry’s high-and-inside approach. Junior first baseman Megan Coyle followed with a walk, but BU couldn’t capitalize. 

Ricard opened strong against one of the nation’s top offenses, retiring the side in order in the first inning. She started with a flyout from outfielder Kasidi Pickering, then struck out designated player Ella Parker — who entered hitting .417 — with a sharp rise ball that gave the Terriers an early spark. 

BU picked up two of its three hits in the top of the second, as Williams led off with an infield slap single to shortstop, and Christopher followed with a single through the left side. 

The Terriers threatened again, but Landry escaped the jam with a fielder’s choice from freshman catcher Addie Lucier and a flyout from Deppiesse, keeping BU off the board. 

Ricard opened the third inning by retiring cleanup hitter Gabbie Garcia on a flyout to Lyons, but it would be her last out of the day. 

Infielder Sydney Barker notched the first hit for the Sooners with a full-count single up the middle, followed by back-to-back singles from Ailana Agbayani and Abigale Dayton to load the bases. Catcher Isabela Emerling was then hit by a pitch, forcing in the game’s first run. 

Nine-hole hitter Hannah Coor punched a two-run single up the middle on a 1-1 count, scoring Dayton and Agbayani and moving Emerling to second. The hit ended Ricard’s outing, as Waters turned to freshman Danika Nell, who had thrown seven shutout innings to clinch the Patriot League title against Army West Point.

Ricard usually throws complete games and has pitched on back-to-back days this season, but Waters chose a different strategy against the nation’s top offense.

“I have to look at tomorrow and try and figure out, in this heat at the end of the season, can she go a full day tomorrow? Can she win us two games tomorrow?” Waters said. “We knew it would be all hands on deck today.”

Nell walked Pickering to load the bases for Parker but responded by inducing a soft grounder back to the circle, throwing home to Christopher for the force out. 

With the bases still loaded, infielder Nelly McEnroe-Marinas delivered a two-run single up the middle, extending Oklahoma’s lead to 5-0. 

After the Sooners batted around, Nell escaped the inning by retiring Garcia, who popped out to sophomore third baseman Kyomi Apalit in her second at-bat of the frame.

BU went down in order in the top of the third, with Lyons and Coyle grounding out and sophomore outfielder Kylie Doherty striking out. 

Oklahoma added two more runs in the bottom half, starting with a single to right by Barker. Agbayani followed with a bunt to Apalit, whose overthrow to first allowed Barker to advance to third. A second throwing error by sophomore right fielder Sophie Naivar brought Barker home and moved Agbayani all the way to third.

Waters made another pitching change, bringing in freshman left-hander Ava Johnson. 

After falling behind 3-0, Johnson hit Dayton, but Dayton was caught stealing for the first out. Johnson then walked Isabela Emerling, putting runners on the corners and ending her brief outing after just one-third of an inning.

Waters turned to junior Haley Ganino, who would finish the game for BU.

“You have to play a flawless, perfect game in order to be in the game,” Waters said, referring to facing national powerhouses like Oklahoma. “You can’t have mistakes, because they’re going to capitalize.”

Ganino opened her outing by getting Coor to pop out to second for the second out of the inning. After the lineup turned over, Pickering drew a walk, and Parker followed with another walk to force in a run. Ganino ended the inning by inducing a groundout to shortstop from McEnroe-Marinas.

With a comfortable lead in the fourth and the run rule in sight, Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso pulled Landry and brought in junior left-hander Kierston Deal. Gasso also made several defensive substitutions, resting most of her starters. 

Deal hit Naivar to start the inning, and junior Aimee Metz entered as a pinch runner. Deal quickly regained control, recording two strikeouts and a popup to end the frame. 

In the bottom half, Ganino responded with a clean inning of her own, retiring the Sooners in order with all three outs recorded on fly balls.

BU sent the 8-9-1 hitters to the plate for their final at-bats. Deal opened the inning by getting Lucier to ground out. Deppiesse followed with a single to center for the Terriers’ third hit of the day. BU couldn’t build on it, as Lyons and Doherty were retired to end the inning.

The game ended abruptly when Chaney Helton, who entered without a batting average, launched a solo home run to left field off Ganino. The blast gave the Sooners an 8-0 lead and triggered the run rule, ending BU’s day after five innings.

The fight isn’t over for the Terriers, who now must battle through the loser’s bracket in the Norman Regional to avoid a second loss in the double-elimination format.

BU will face Omaha, the region’s No. 2 seed, in a win-or-go-home game after the Mavericks fell 1-0 to California Friday. 

“Omaha is tough. That’s a really great ball club,” Waters said. “Hopefully, we can settle in a little bit.”

BU and Omaha will square off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET in Norman, Oklahoma, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.