Box Scores: Game 1 (W, 2-0) | Game 2 (L, 4-2 / 8 inn.)

Game One Highlights

BOSTON - Seeking a doubleheader sweep over defending Patriot League champion Lehigh, the Boston University softball posted a 2-0 shutout victory and then came up just short in a 4-2 eight-inning loss at home on Wednesday afternoon.

With the extending and then the snapping of their win streak at a season-high seven games, the Terriers (20-21, 6-5 PL) avenge last year's sweep at Lehigh (31-12, 9-2 PL) in which they lost three games by a combined score of 23-2. Reigning NFCA Co-National Pitcher of the Week Melanie Russell (8-8) played a critical role in keeping the Mountain Hawks' bats at bay, as she opened the day with 11 strikeouts against one walk in a two-hit shutout performance.

Russell followed up by pitching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief in game two before Lehigh managed a two-out, two-RBI single in the top of the eighth to avoid the sweep. The Mountain Hawks also had strong pitching with Emily Sorem (13-5) going the distance by limiting the Terriers to just one earned run off nine hits with the help of six strikeouts. PL Preseason Pitcher of the Year Christine Campbell (17-7) lost the first game after allowing just two runs off seven hits.

Sophomore Emma Wong was one of three Terriers alongside freshman Alex Heinen and sophomore Kaitlin Sahlinger to finish the doubleheader with three hits. Both Heinen and freshman Emily Morrow plated Wong in the first game. Junior Brittany Younan played a role in both runs in the second contest by driving in Sahlinger and scoring herself on a wild pitch.

Lehigh had a double in each of the first two innings, but Russell came back with strikeouts to end the threat. Wong led off the bottom half of the second with a single and eventually moved to third on Heinen's single and Sahlinger's flyout. Morrow then managed to plate Wong for the 1-0 advantage.

With two outs in the sixth, Wong hit a two-out infield single and scored on Heinen's RBI double for the insurance run. After hitting a batter to start the fourth, Russell retired the final 12 batters with the help of seven strikeouts to become the first pitcher since 2014 to fan more than 10 Mountain Hawks in a game.

The Mountain Hawks only struck out twice in game two and grabbed their first lead of the day in the fourth with three straight hits against senior Lauren Hynes. Jessica Calvini singled up the middle for an RBI after Vicky Lattanzio hit an RBI double. With one out, Russell entered the game and got a foul out and line out to prevent any more damage.

The Terriers tied the game in the fifth after loading the bases with zero outs on hits by Sahlinger and freshman Emily Morrow and an error on freshman Alexa's sacrifice bunt. Younan followed with an RBI single and would later score from third after Lehigh got two force outs at home on a wild pitch.

BU only managed three more hits the rest of the game and had two on base with two outs in the sixth before flying out to center. The Mountain Hawks stranded two runners in the seventh after two strikeouts and were one out away from doing the same thing in the eighth. However, Katie Schultz singled to center on an 0-2 pitch to grab the 4-2 lead. Her hit snapped Russell's 34 straight innings of scoreless pitching.

Sorem allowed a one-out hit to Wong in the bottom of the eighth but got two strikeouts to seal the victory for Lehigh.

The Terriers will next continue Patriot League action at Holy Cross on Saturday (April 30) with the doubleheader slated for 12 p.m.