The Boston University softball team snapped an eight-game losing streak on Thursday with a pair of wins over the University of Rhode Island.
The first game of the doubleheader took nine innings to decide, with a two-run home run by junior Kristin Knesek winning it for the Terriers, 6-4.
The six runs were the most the Terriers have put up in a single game this season. The team also got a solid effort out of its starter, junior Robyn Horrick (2-3), who gave up only two earned runs in a complete-game outing.
The game was tied 1-1 going into the eighth, when freshman DeKenya Williams hit a three-run shot to give BU a 4-1 cushion going into the final half-inning.
But poor defense would allow the Rams to send the contest to extra innings. Infielders Jamie Haas and Jennifer Shields, both freshmen, committed errors that led to a three-run rally for Rhode Island.
Inexperience would cost the Terriers the lead, but veteran presence would bail them out when Knesek hit the game-winner. It’s a situation the team has had to deal with throughout the year.
“We’re hard to judge because we’re so young,” said senior Aryn Rangel. “We were wavering and I kind of didn’t know where we were at.”
The Terriers were able to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when they won 4-1 in the second game, which was shortened to six innings due to darkness.
Junior Tiffany Finateri (2-3) pitched five innings and allowed no earned runs to get the win. Junior Julie Henneke came on in relief to pitch the final inning.
The Terriers’ offense had been largely ineffective heading into the sixth inning, but the team did hold a 1-0 advantage.
“We played a little lax the first couple of innings,” Rangel said.
But BU would get a key pinch hit from sophomore Nicole Kurker, who saw her first action of the season. Kurker’s single in the sixth knocked home two runs, and she also scored on a double by the following batter, junior Kate Abney.
“The second game was more of a team effort,” said head coach Amy Hayes.
The Terriers’ eight hits came from seven different players and four different players scored.
The offense should improve further once Rangel returns from an ankle injury. Rangel did get one at-bat in the first game, but she did not play the field.
“It’s coming back. I’m getting stronger everyday,” she said.