Following its first weekend sweep of 2017, the Boston University softball team will travel down the road for a single game versus Boston College. The Terriers (11-20, 3-3 Patriot League) downed the College of the Holy Cross three times over the past weekend and are looking to take the momentum into Wednesday’s game.
“I feel like our bats finally came alive, which is exactly what we needed,” said BU head coach Ashley Waters. “Our pitching did its part and our offense did their part. On both ends neither one of them felt too much pressure. [We need to] continue what we are doing and progress off that.”
BU snapped an eight-game skid over the weekend, thanks in part to a tremendous effort by pitchers freshman Kali Magane and senior Makinna Akers. Akers pitched the second game of the series and gave up three runs. Magane gave up just one run over 12 innings of work.
“They both did a great job, I think they worked really hard after the Lehigh [University] series to make the ball move, spin and hit their spots,” Waters said. “I’m excited about where they are at and I know they are just going to continue to improve.”
Seniors Moriah Connolly and Gabi Martinez lead the way at the plate for BU. Connolly, the shortstop and leadoff hitter, paces the Terriers with a .359 average and a Patriot League-leading 26 stolen bases. Connolly has stolen more bases herself than three Patriot League teams have in total.
Martinez, a Weston, Florida native, is hitting to the tune of a .340 average along with four home runs and 21 RBI, both second on the team. Sophomore catcher Alex Heinen leads the team in both categories with six home runs and 23 RBI while boasting a .288 average of her own.
“Gabi had a great weekend,” Waters said. “Her Saturday, she was 6-7 with a couple of RBI. She’s hitting right now at a perfect time. It’s exactly what we need from our three and four hitters. They absolutely have the ability to help us out and be phenomenal and make an impact. When you get runners on in front of them you need to execute.”
Magane and Akers do a majority of the pitching for the Terriers. BU’s ace is Magane, who comes in with a 6-8 record and a 3.83 ERA across 14 starts. Akers has started five games and is 5-6 with a 3.36 ERA.
After taking the final two of a three-game set against the University of Louisville, the Eagles (23-14) own a 5-1 record in Chestnut Hill. BC is lead by a quintet of players with above .300 averages: Taylor Coroneos (.344), Jordan Chimento (.339), Chloe Sharabba (.322), Annie Murphy (.318) and Tatiana Cortez (.307).
Cortez, a senior catcher/third baseman, provides the pop for the Eagles with a team-high eight home runs and was named to the All-ACC First Team a season ago.
Sharabba is a junior middle infielder who is second on the Eagles with six homers and 17 RBI, which is third best on the team.
Sophomore outfielder Lexi DiEmmanuele is a threat on the basepaths. Like Martinez, she also hails from Weston, Florida and has swiped 21 runs.
BC’s pitching staff is anchored by junior Jessica Dreswick. With a 16-6 record and a 1.85 ERA, the BU bats will need to break a pitching staff that gives up just over two earned runs a game.
“It’s just a matter of swinging,” Waters said. “When teams have low ERA’s they’re doing a great job of throwing strikes. For us, it’s looking for a pitch to hit and to swing the bat. If they make the plays, they make the plays, but we need to do our part of putting it in play and seeing if we can make something happen.”
