Softball looks to reclaim winning ways against Lehigh

The Boston University softball team will look to get back into the win column this weekend, continuing its homestand with a three-game set against Patriot League rival Lehigh University.

The Terriers (11-16, 0-3 Patriot League) have had a tough first half of the season and are currently in their second four-game losing streak of 2016. However, with the series against Lehigh (21-7, 3-0 Patriot League) being just their second league action of the year, there is ample time for first-year head coach Ashley Waters’ team to make up ground.

To accomplish, BU will look to be more consistent across the board moving forward.

“I think we need to get to that level of consistency,” Waters said. “I think we’re right on the door where we’re close in a lot of games, but we just haven’t found a way to get over the hump. Lehigh’s a great team and, of course, we started our conference play with two really tough opponents. I think that’s a great thing to set the standard and set the bar high for both teams.”

Most recently, the Terriers fell 5-4 at home to Boston College in extra innings Wednesday afternoon. It was a tough result, as BU showed well against the Eagles (19-13), but there were some strong takeaways.

Among them was the play of both junior shortstop Brittany Younan and junior first baseman Gabi Martinez, who each collected three hits on the day. Younan and Martinez have had opposite seasons up to this point, but look for each player to step up her game as the team moves further into conference action.

Younan currently leads the team in batting average and total bases, and she has been a force to be reckoned with in a lineup that has underperformed to this point.

“She’s done an exceptional job,” Waters said. “There’s never a day off with her, and she does a great job of working on things to master her craft. The statistics that she has right now are based solely on hard work. She understands the game and has a passion for it. That’s something I can appreciate, and she’s setting the bar high.”

Martinez, who led the team in RBIs a season ago, could have just had the game she needed against the Eagles to get her going again. She’s only batting .186, but her skills with the bat are well documented.

On the flip side, the reigning Patriot League-champion Mountain Hawks have picked up right where they left off, as Lehigh sits at the top of the conference standings yet again.

The Mountain Hawks have a number of threats on offense and on the mound that BU will have to contend with.

Senior Morgan Decker is having a phenomenal season at the dish for Lehigh. She’s batting .469 with five home runs and 27 RBIs, which is tied for best in the Patriot League. The Jamison, Pennsylvania native is a major reason why the Mountain Hawks have the highest-scoring offense in the league.

“I think we just need to be smart about going about her in certain situations,” Waters said. “Depending on where we’re at, if we have two outs and we’re in a good spot, we’ll go at her, but she has power and she has consistency. Our pitchers are going to have to do their best to hit their spots against her.”

On the mound, junior Christine Campbell received the conference’s Pitcher of the Week award. A San Diego, California native, Campbell pitched 17.2 innings over the course of four appearances and had a sterling 1.98 ERA.

For BU to win the series, Waters said her team will need to minimize the impact of Lehigh’s top players and maintain a balanced approach.

“We just need to control the things we can control,” Waters said. “We try not to pay too much attention to opponents. The kids just need to own their part, man their positions and do their job. And then all together, everyone’s doing their job, and hopefully that leads to nine people being successful. And that’s how you win ballgames.”