Russell Shuts Down Lafayette in DH Sweep

Saturday, April 23

BU Softball Field

2:00 PM

Boston University

18-20, 0

Lafayette

12-26, 0

Lafayette

Boston University

Senior Melanie Russell allowed just two hits in 9.1 innings for a win and save.

April 23, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

April 23, 2016

Box Scores: Game One (W, 6-0) | Game Two (W, 4-1)

Sunday Links: Listen (WTBU) | Periscope | Gametracker

BOSTON - Highlighted by senior Melanie Russell's 16 combined strikeouts and five of her teammates tallying at least three hits apiece, the Boston University softball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep against Lafayette at home on Saturday afternoon.

One game away from their first weekend series sweep of the season, the Terriers improve to 18-20 and 4-4 in conference action, while the Leopards fall to 12-26 (2-9 PL).

With BU Athletic Hall of Fame pitcher Robyn King ('01) and former America East Pitcher of the Year Cassidi Hardy ('10) in attendance as part of Alumni Day festivities, Russell put on a show in the circle. She started the day by limiting Lafayette to just two hits in a complete-game 6-0 shutout with the help of a career-tying 10 strikeouts against zero walks. She then added six strikeouts in the final 2.1 innings of the game-two 4-1 victory for her third-career save.

On the offensive end, several Terriers made key contributions throughout the day. In game one, sophomores Jilee Schanda and Emma Wong combined for four hits, four RBIs and three runs scored. During the next game, junior Brittany Younan delivered a big two-RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth to put BU ahead for good.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom half of the first, Wong singled through the right side to plate Schanda and junior Moriah Connolly. Schanda followed with an RBI double in the second before scoring on junior Gabi Martinez's RBI single.

The Terriers kept on the attack with Wong tripling to right and scoring on sophomore Kaitlin Sahlinger's sacrifice fly. Younan scored BU's final run in the fourth on Schanda's RBI single.

Maddie Wensel and Jenna Orlando both had a single but never managed to get into scoring position against Russell, who earned her third shutout of the season.

After leaving two runners on base in each of the first three innings, the Terriers found themselves down a run in the fourth when Stephanie Thomas helped the Leopards take advantage of a defensive error with a two-out RBI single. The deficit was quickly erased, however, in the bottom half of the inning.

With one out, freshmen Alexa Ponce and Emily Morrow hit back-to-back singles. Younan followed with her triple to plate junior pinch-runner Rachel Levine and Morrow for the 2-1 lead. The Leopards had an opportunity to retake the lead in the fifth with a single and two-out double against senior Lauren Hynes (10-10), but Russell came in relief to get the third out on the first of her six strikeouts.

Batting a perfect 3-of-3 in the game, Ponce led off the sixth with a single and took second on a bunt single from Morrow. With one out, Connolly and Schanda followed with back-to-back RBI plays to put the game out of reach.  

The Terriers will next conclude the weekend series against Lafayette on Sunday at 12 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, BU will recognize seniors Lauren Hynes, Melanie Russell and Kelly Plescow.