FULLERTON, Calif. – After dropping a hard-fought 11-10 eight-inning contest to San Diego State, the Boston University softball team bounced back with a 5-4 victory at defending Big West champion Cal State Fullerton on Friday evening.

Senior Moriah Connolly led the Terrier bats with a combined 6-of-8 performance that featured six runs scored and four stolen bases. Senior Makinna Akers and freshman Kali Magane limited the Titans to a total of nine hits, and sophomore Emily Morrow preserved the thrilling win by catching a hard liner with a runner at second and turning the double play.

GAME ONE RUNDOWN
Final Score: San Diego State 11, Boston University - 10 (8 inn.)
Records: SDSU (13-8), BU (7-12)
WP: Romero (4-1, 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 0 ER)
LP: Akers (3-3, 1.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 BB)
BU Leaders: Connolly (3-4 AB, 4 R, 1 BB), Martinez (2-3 AB, 2 R, 3-R HR, 5 RBI), Heinen (2-5 AB, 1 RBI, 1 R, 2 2B)
SDSU Leaders: Peres (3-4 AB, 4 RBI, HR, 2 2B), Ignacio (2-4 AB, 3 RBI, 2 R, HR), Sturdivant (2-5 AB, 2 RBI, HR)

THE FINAL INNING

• With the score 7-7 entering the eighth, the teams used international tiebreaker rules with a runner starting at second.
• The Aztecs were down to their final out with a runner at third before posting three hits and taking advantage of two BU errors to take a commanding 11-7 lead.
• Highlighted by senior Gabi Martinez's two-RBI single and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Madi Killebrew, the Terriers stormed back to pull within one and had runners at the corners before grounding out to third.

THE SETUP

• Owner of an 8-0 run-rule victory over the Terriers from a week ago, the Aztecs jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the first two innings with back-to-back solo shots and a two-riun blast against freshman Kali Magane.
• After sophomore Alexa Ponce hit an RBI single in the first, BU rallied to tie the game in the third with a three-homer.
• SDSU scored the next three runs with a sac fly in the fifth and a two-RBI double in the seventh, but the lead did not last long.
• Scoring four runs in the contest, senior Moriah Connolly hit an RBI single, stole second and then reached home on sophomore Alex Heinen's RBI double.
• The Terriers went to extra innings for the first time this season by plating Martinez and Heinen on a defensive error.

GAME TWO RUNDOWN
Final Score: Boston University - 5, Cal State Fullerton 4
Records: BU (8-12), CSUF (10-12)
WP: Akers (4-3, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 1 K)
SV: Magane (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 K, 1 BB)
LP: Golden (7.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 K, 3 BB)
BU Leaders: Connolly (3-4 AB, 2 R), Killebrew (1-3 AB, RBI 2B, 1 R), Schanda (1-3 AB, 1 RBI, 1 R)
CSUF Leaders: Rippy (2-4 AB, 2 R), Gonzalez (1-4 AB, 3 RBI)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first by taking advantage of two errors with three hits, including an RBI double from sophomore Madi Killebrew and RBI single by junior Jilee Schanda.
• The Titans cut the deficit in half with a run in both the first and fourth against senior Makinna Akers.
• Senior Moriah Connolly added what proved to be the game-winning run in the top of the seventh by hitting a lead-off single, advancing to second on sophomore Alex Heinen's single, stealing third and scoring on a wild pitch.
• After pitching two scoreless innings in relief, freshman Kali Magane ran into trouble by allowing back-to-back singles and a two-RBI double.
• On the ensuing at-bat with runner at second and one out, Mikaela Francis hit a hard liner toward right field, but sophomore second baseman Emily Morrow made an impressive diving catch and threw to the shortstop Connolly at second for the easy force out and victory.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

• With today's split, the Terriers moved to 3-5 this season in games decided by one run.
• Martinez's five RBIs against the Aztecs were two shy of her personal best set against Army back in 2015.
• Magane claimed her first-career save against the Titans.
• With the six combined runs scored in the two contests, Connolly moved within two runs of Erica Casacci, who ranks fifth all-time at BU with 127 ... She's also four stolen bases away from tying No. 2 Shayne Lotito ('09) at 95.
• Plagued by injuries, Killebrew collected her first two-career RBIs and her first-ever double on Friday.

NEXT UP

• The Terriers will play a game at two different locations on Saturday (March 11) to conclude their spring break trip to California.
• They will first play No. 10 UCLA at Long Beach State with first pitch set for 12 p.m. ET and then return to Cal State Fullerton at 8:30 p.m. ET for a rematch against the Titans.