Alex Heinen tag at plate against Michigan State
Taylor Jones
0
Michigan State MSU 2-3
3
Winner Boston University BOSTONU 2-2
Michigan State MSU
2-3
0
Final
3
Boston University BOSTONU
2-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Michigan State MSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 4
Boston University BOSTONU 1 0 0 2 0 0 X 3 4 1

W: DuBois, Ali (3-0) L: K Zalewski (0-2)

2
Boston University BOSTONU 3-2
3
Winner Ohio State OSU 5-0
Boston University BOSTONU
3-2
2
Final
3
Ohio State OSU
5-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Boston University BOSTONU 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 11 0
Ohio State OSU 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 5 0

W: McCombs (3-0) L: DuBois, Ali (3-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

BU Concludes Florida Trip with 3-0 Win over Michigan State, 3-2 Extra-Inning Loss to Ohio State

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Facing a pair of 2017 Big Ten tournament semifinalists, the Boston University softball team wrapped up the FAU First-Pitch Classic with a 3-0 win over Michigan State and a hard-fought 3-2 eight-inning loss to Ohio State.

Freshman Ali Dubois (3-1) claimed her first-career shutout with seven strikeouts against the Spartans (2-3) and then pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief before the Buckeyes (5-0) took advantage of the international tie breaker rule with a walk-off RBI single. Junior Alex Heinen led the Terriers (3-2) on the offensive end by hitting a combined 5-of-6 with two RBIs. 

GAME ONE: BU 3, MICHIGAN STATE 0

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The Terriers took the lead for good in the bottom of the first by taking advantage of two Spartan errors with Heinen's one-out RBI single.
  • Michigan State tried to score the equalizer in the third on a single and two-out double, but senior shortstop Brittany Younan caught a relay throw from senior center fielder Jilee Schanda and threw a strike to Heinen at home to apply the tag.
  • Heinen added another hit to help set up a big fourth inning for the Terriers.
  • After she was replaced by junior Alexa Ponce on a fielder's choice, Michigan State hit senior Kaitlin Sahlinger and then committed another error to load the bases.
  • Senior Emma Wong delivered a pair of insurance runs with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle.
  • The Spartans had two quality chances to rally, starting in the sixth with back-to-back singles.
  • Dubois ended the first threat by inducing a groundout and pair of strikeouts.
  • In the seventh MSU loaded the bases with two outs off an error, hit-by-pitch and walk but flew out to Schanda in center for the loss.
GAME TWO: OHIO STATE 3, BU 2 (8 inn.)

THE EIGHTH INNING
  • Both teams started with a runner at second using international tiebreaker rules.
  • Junior Sam Sydenham advanced to third on a passed ball but never reached home, as the Terriers had two strikeouts and a line out.
  • 2017 All-American Lilli Piper ended the game in the bottom half by hitting Dubois' first pitch up the middle to plate her teammate from second for the walk-off win.
THE SETUP
  • Scoring in the first inning for the third straight contest, BU grabbed an early lead off Schanda's one-out triple and Heinen's RBI single.
  • Junior Madi Killebrew and Ponce also had a single with one out, but Ohio State brought Shelby McCombs (3-0) in relief to get a force out at home and a routine grounder to prevent further damage.
  • Managing just one hit through the first four innings against sophomore Kali Magane, the Buckeyes broke through with a two-out double and single down the left field line to tie the game.
  • Heinen and Ponce started the sixth with a pair of singles and then advanced on junior Emily Morrow's sacrifice bunt.
  • After Sahlinger loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, Wong hit an RBI single to put BU back ahead, but the Terriers left the bases loaded for the second time.
  • McCombs helped her own cause by hitting a solo homer against sophomore reliever Lizzie Annerino to help send the game to extra innings.
FAU FIRST-PITCH CLASSIC NOTES
  • The Terriers shut out a major conference opponent for the first time since blanking then-No. 23 Syracuse, Boston College and Maryland with identical 1-0 scores in 2012 ... They also claimed their largest margin of victory in a shutout against a major conference since beating Auburn, 5-0, in the 2009 NCAAs.
  • BU has now won two of the last three meetings against Michigan State following a 4-3 loss in 2016 and 11-4 victory in 2014.
  • BU met Ohio State for the first time since suffering a 13-10 loss in 2005.
  • Both Heinen and Killebrew wrapped up the weekend with a team-high eight hits and two doubles apiece ... Heinen recorded five RBIs as well.
  • Dubois appeared in all five contests and finished with 15 strikeouts against nine walks in 20.0 innings while allowing only two earned runs.
  • As a team, BU hit .293 for the weekend while holding opponents to a .224 average.
NEXT UP: TROY COX CLASSIC
  • The Terriers will next head west to New Mexico State on Feb. 16-18 for five contests.
  • BU will face both the host Aggies and Ball State two times apiece.
  • The Terriers will also face off against defending national champion Oklahoma.
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