Boston University softball picked up a series sweep against Colgate University with two shutouts Saturday and a walk-off victory Sunday.
“A sweep this weekend obviously makes amounts of difference continuing on and keeping pace in the conference,” BU head coach Ashley Waters said.
Game 1: BU 8, Colgate 0 (5)
A dynamic six-run bottom of the fourth set up the Terriers (23-17, 18-1 Patriot League) for a rule-run victory. After giving up two runs in the bottom of the first, Raider (17-21, 3-6 Patriot League) pitcher Jessica Hay struggled to hold back the Terriers in the fourth, giving up three runs and only collecting one out before getting the hook in favor of pitcher Kaitlyn Borruso.
Borruso was unable to clean up Hay’s mess, giving up three unearned runs before finally managing to end the inning. Hay was the losing pitcher that afternoon.
Five innings of shutout one-hit ball from sophomore pitcher Ali DuBois allowed BU to win the game by the run-rule after the top of the fifth.
Game 2: BU 7, Colgate 0
Thanks to freshman pitcher Emily Gant’s seven-inning two-hit shutout, BU’s seven-run in the latter half of the twin bill was uncontested.
Senior infielder Emily Morrow collected two RBIs en route to the 7-0 win.
Over the first two games of the series, the Terriers held Colgate to three hits. DuBois said she thinks this is a great feat for Gant and herself, given how strong she thinks the Colgate offense is.
“The way I view Colgate, they’re kind of a prolific offensive team,” DuBois said. “… For us to hold Colgate to three hits, that’s huge.”
Game 3: BU 2, Colgate 1
For game three of the series, DuBois opposed Colgate pitcher Bella Crow.
Crow would give up a run to the Terriers early in the bottom of the first. After one out was recorded, Morrow hit a double to right field. The next at-bat by senior catcher Alex Heinen would result in an RBI single that would bring Morrow home.
The bats went quiet in the second and third innings for both teams. DuBois struck out the first two batters she saw in the top of the third — Raider outfielder Jordan Miller and utility player Christiana Cottrell — en route to a groundout that would end the inning.
DuBois then struck out the first two Raiders she saw in the top of the fourth. However, she would surrender her first hit of the afternoon against infielder Morgan Farrah. Regardless, she would manage to escape from the inning after forcing a flyout from Raider catcher and utility player Virginia Irby.
Colgate would finally reap rewards from their efforts to score in the top of the sixth. Cottrell started the inning for the Raiders with a double. With one out in the inning, Raiders infielder Lauren La Terra would come off the bench with a pinch-hit triple to easily bring Cottrell home. DuBois would escape the inning without further damage, but the ball game was set anew.
The bottom of the sixth and the top of the seventh would not see any hits from either side, but BU would send their fans home in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off hit from sophomore infielder Marina Sylvestri. A single from senior catcher/infielder Alexa Ponce began the rally, with junior pitcher Kali Magane being replaced on base for Ponce as a pinch-runner.
A wild pitch would allow Magane to advance into scoring position at second base, which set up the perfect opportunity for Sylvestri. The sophomore infielder placed a bunt that rolled past the charging pitcher and first baseman and allowed Magane to bring in the winning run.
“I think Marina showing bunt just made them want to throw a rise ball … to see if she can pop it up,” Waters said. “I never thought we’d win on a walk-off push bunt, but we’ll take it.”
What’s next
The Terriers will take on UMass Lowell in a doubleheader Wednesday at home. The River Hawks (20-12, 8-0 America East) have come off of a series sweep of their own over the weekend against Binghamton University (14-21, 3-8 America East).
