BU Clinches PL Berth with DH Split at Colgate

Saturday, May 7

Hamilton, N.Y.

2:00 PM

Boston University

24-22, 0

Colgate

12-28, 0

Boston U.

Colgate

Freshman Alexa Ponce went 2-of-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored in game two.

BU Clinches PL Berth with DH Split at Colgate

May 7, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

May 7, 2016

Box Scores: Game One (L, 1-0) | Game Two (W, 9-2)

Watch PLN Replays: Game One | Game Two

Sunday Links: Watch on PLN | Live Stats

HAMILTON, N.Y. - Highlighted by senior Melanie Russell's 22 strikeouts in just 9.2 innings of work, the Boston University recorded a doubleheader split at Colgate by avenging a 1-0 loss with a 9-2 victory on Saturday afternoon.

By collecting a win over the Raiders (12-28, 7-10 PL), the Terriers (24-22, 10-6 PL) clinched their second berth in the four-team Patriot League tournament in three years. They can move into the three-seed past Bucknell (11-7 PL) with a win on Sunday against Colgate.

BU had its chances to earn a sweep at Colgate but stranded 10 runners in the first contest with an 8-2 advantage in hits. Russell (11-9) was stellar in the circle, as she struck out a career-high 15 hitters in six innings for the most strikeouts by a Terrier since Ashlee Freeman posted 18 in a 16-inning performance against UMBC in 2005. However, despite her efforts, she still was stuck with the loss due to Gillian Murray hitting a solo homer in the third on a 3-2 pitch.

Brigit Ieuter (7-12) pitched Colgate's fourth shutout of the season with the help of one strikeout against two walks. Her defense also stepped up by getting three tag outs at home to keep the Terriers off the scoreboard. 

The Terriers' bats rebounded in game two to help the BU pitching staff with freshman Alexa Ponce, junior Gabi Martinez and junior Brittany Younan combining for eight hits and seven RBIs. Ponce put the Terriers ahead for good in the fifth with a two-out, two-RBI double before Martinez hit her team-leading fourth homer of the season, a two-run blast, in the sixth. Younan became the third this season to collect four hits and come up one shy of tying the school record.

BU grabbed the first lead of game in the second when sophomore Emma Wong reached first on an error, stole second and scored on Ponce's RBI-single. During the hit to right, Colgate committed its first of three errors to help Ponce move all the way to third. Younan followed with an RBI single for the 2-0 lead.

After two scoreless innings, the Raiders drew a walk against senior Lauren Hynes and then had two in scoring position with one out following an error in the outfield. Holly Geranen delivered a two-RBI sinlge to tie the game 2-2.

With the score still 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Colgate had a one-out double down the right field line to put a runner in scoring position. Russell then entered from the bullpen to record two outs and end the threat. After allowing just two hits in the first game, she held Colgate to four in 3.2 innings while tallying seven strikeouts.

The Terriers pulled away in the fifth despite having the bases empty with two outs. After Wong and Martinez hit back-to-back singles, sophomore Kaitlin Sahlinger was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ponce then crushed a 1-2 pitch to left center for a two-RBI double. Freshman Emily Morrow and Younan followed with RBI hits.

BU finished with 12 hits following Martinez's two-run homer in the sixth. The Terriers will next conclude the weekend series against Colgate at 12 p.m. on Sunday.