Looking to get back on the winning side after two losing tournaments in California, the Boston University softball team returns home for its home opener against Bryant University on Thursday.
The Terriers (8-14) dropped four of five at the San Diego Classic and five of six at the Long Beach State Tournament, but are looking forward to getting back to action after a 12-day break.
BU head coach Ashley Waters said her team is making minor adjustments after its losing efforts.
“Just little things from California that we could prep on and get better at, just the small things,” Waters said.
The Terriers also took advantage of the break to get healthy, as the team had some illnesses and injuries after the long travel.
“We took some time off last week to re-acclimate to the time zone, and we had some kids and coaching staff under the weather,” Waters said.
The Terriers were originally scheduled to host a doubleheader against Bryant (4-20) on Wednesday, but snow from winter storms has left the field soaked in water, forcing the teams to salvage a single game on Thursday.
The Bulldogs have struggled in the early going, batting .199 as a team. Bryant’s leading hitters are senior Haylee Haas and sophomore Kaleigh Goulart. Haas, an outfielder from Moorpark, California, leads the Bulldogs with a .273 average.
A Marion native, Goulart is batting .250 and has hit Bryant’s only two home runs of the season.
The pitching core is young for the Bulldogs, as freshman Gabrielle Ermish has tossed a team-high 51.1 innings. Sophomore Colby Norris, redshirt sophomores Brandi Burgin and Logan Paul could also see time on the mound on Thursday.
On the other side, senior shortstop Moriah Connolly paces the Terriers with a .352 average and 16 stolen bases. BU’s two main catchers, sophomore Alex Heinen and senior Gabi Martinez, have combined for nine of the Terriers’ 10 home runs.
“Alex and Gabi do a great job driving in runs,” Waters said. “I think we need to do a better job of spreading that out a little bit and having more people in those positions. They can do more than that. They had a good start, and the best is yet to come.”
Martinez, a Weston, Florida native, is batting .319 with four home runs and 15 RBI. During BU’s road trips, she has seen time in the infield as well.
“In her senior campaign it’s a good push to go out the door with swinging a good bat, and she has a great mindset,” Waters said.
Meanwhile, Heinen has a team-high five home runs and five doubles and she is second to Martinez with 14 RBI.
“Alex is a catalyst behind the plate and at the plate,” Waters said.
On the mound, freshman Kali Magane has thrown 58 innings thus far, compiling a 4-5 record with a 3.38 ERA across 13 appearances. Senior Makinna Akers has been BU’s most reliable pitcher in the early season, with a 4-3 record across 16 appearances and 45.2 innings.
“[Magane’s] a competitor,” Waters said. “She gets on the mound and she doesn’t care who she’s facing — she just goes at hitters. Makinna is doing a brilliant job coming in behind her and cleaning up some innings. They’ve been a really great one-two tandem.”
Bryant serves as a good stepping stone for the Terriers, allowing them to jump off to a good start in the Northeast before entering Patriot League play against Lehigh University.
“Lehigh’s had a really good start, and they’re always kind of at the top of the Patriot League,” Waters said. “I just think for us, getting some games under our belt and getting going in the Northeast in the cold and playing against a team that we can contend with and beat, that’s the idea of it.”
