Boston University
Colgate
Akers, Timely Hitting Propel BU to DH Sweep over Colgate
April 25, 2015 | Softball
Game 1 Box (W, 4-3) | Game 2 Box (W, 6-3) | Photo Gallery 
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BOSTON - Highlighted by freshman Jilee Schanda's grand slam and sophomore Makinna Akers' strong pitching performance, the Boston University softball team posted a doubleheader sweep against Colgate on Saturday afternoon at the BU Softball Field.
Rallying with three runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 game-one win, the Terriers (15-24, 6-8 PL) jumped out ahead early on Schanda's first-career homer and held for the Raiders for a 6-3 game-two victory.
Akers (7-7) pitched all 14 innings and limited Colgate to a combined three runs and nine hits while tallying 10 strikeouts against zero walks. Sophomore Brittany Younan led BU with a combined three hits and was one of five Terriers with an RBI, while classmate Gabi Martinez earned a pair of doubles in the doubleheader.
Junior Melanie Russell earned the start in the first contest but was quickly relieved after running into trouble with a pair of walks and illegal pitches. The Raiders took advantage of a BU error to plate two and added an RBI single to grab the early 3-0 lead. They would only record two more hits the rest of the contest though against Akers. 
The Terriers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when senior Emily Felbaum reached home from first on freshman Kaitlin Sahlinger's double to left center. Colgate's top pitcher Brigit Ieuter (9-3, 2.09 ERA) kept BU from adding more until the seventh when she began to reach the 100-pitch count. 
Sahlinger and senior Mandy Fernandez led off with singles and advanced a base with the help of a wild pitch. Sophomore Moriah Connolly and freshman Emma Wong followed with walks to cut the deficit to one. Megan Carnase came out of the bullpen but could not stop the Terriers' rally, as Younan singled to left for a game-tying RBI.
With the bases full and zero outs, Martinez drew a full count and then was hit by a pitch to plate Connolly and give BU the come-from-behind victory.
Entering the contest as the Patriot League's leader in home runs, Colgate opened game two with a solo shot to left for an early 1-0 lead, but it did not last long. In the bottom half, Wong followed Connolly's lead-off with a bunt single. Martinez drew a one-out walk to load the bases, and Schanda delivered a bomb to left for the 4-1 advantage.
After the Raiders struck again with a second homer, the Terriers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third, feeding off Martinez's double and Schanda's walk. Colgate managed one more run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly, as Akers held the Raiders to three hits in the final four innings.
The Terriers will next conclude the weekend series against Colgate on Sunday (April 26) at 12 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to help the team and the BU Band celebrate the accomplishments of the three seniors - Emily Felbaum, Mandy Fernandez and Kendra Meadows.
