Terriers Open Connecticut Trip with DH Sweep at Hartford

Friday, March 23

West Hartford, CT

2 PM

Boston University

11-14

Hartford

5-6

BOSTONU

HARTFORD

Photo by: Taylor Jones

Terriers Open Connecticut Trip with DH Sweep at Hartford

March 23, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box (W, 10-5)Game 2 Box (W, 8-6 / 8 inn.)

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Extending their win streak to a season-high four games, the Boston University softball team recorded a combined 27 hits to claim a doubleheader sweep at former America East foe Hartford on Friday afternoon.

With the help of a two-RBI single, junior Alexa Ponce plated a total of three runs to help the Terriers (12-14) roll to a 10-5 victory in game one. Sophomore Kali Magane (1-1) then tallied six strikeouts in 4.0 innings of relief for an 8-6 eight-inning win against the Hawks (5-7).

Senior Brittany Younan was a double shy of a cycle, as she led the offense in the DH by hitting a combined 5-of-7 with seven runs scored, three RBIs, two walks, a homer, a triple. The lead-off hitter was a double shy in the second contest of a cycle.

GAME 1: BU 10, Hartford 5

HOW IT HAPPENED

After getting a walk and hit-by-pitch, the Terriers started the game with four runs off three hits, including senior Jilee Schanda's RBI double and senior Emma Wong's RBI single.
Ponce followed up with a two-RBI single up the middle.
Hartford cut the deficit in half with a two-run homer in the second against freshman Ali Dubois (6-4).
BU though scored five runs over the next three innings off a combined six hits with Ponce, junior Emily Morrow and Schanda all plating a fellow Terrier.
Hartford committed a costly error on junior Alex Heinen's grounder in the fifth to allow two runs score.
The Hawks tried to mount a rally in the fifth with a two-RBI double but only managed a solo homer against sophomore reliever Lizzie Annerino over the final two innings for the 10-5 loss.

GAME 2: BU 8, Hartford 6 (8 inn.)

THE TURNING POINT

With the score tied in the top of the eighth, Morrow led off with a bunt single and then scored after the Hawks misplayed Younan's bunt single.
Reaching third on the throwing error, Younan added an insurance run on Heinen's sacrifice fly to right.
UH hit a pair of singles to put runners in the corners with two outs, but Magane hit the outside corner for her sixth strikeout of the game to seal the win.

THE SETUP

Younan started the contest with a triple and then scored on Heinen's RBI single before adding a two-run blast to left in the second for a 3-0 advantage.
Hartford tied the game in the second on a three-run homer to left against freshman Maya Kipfmiller.
The Terriers retook the lead in the third on back-to-back doubles by Wong and Ponce, Hartford pulled ahead in the bottom half with two runs off two hits and a costly error with a two-out RBI single and RBI walk against Annerino.
After junior Madi Killebrew tied the game in the fourth (5-5) on an RBI double, the Hawks grabbed a 6-5 advantage with a solo homer against Magane.
Morrow led off the sixth and scored on Younan's sacrifice fly to tie the game again, 6-6.
Trying to avoid extra innings, Wong started the seventh with a walk and stolen base but was stranded at third.
Magane earned a pair of strikeouts to prevent a walk-off opportunity for the Hawks.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

The Terriers are now 3-7 in true road games this season following the sweep with the previous win occurring at San Diego State.
BU improved to 52-13 all-time against Hartford in their first meeting since the Terriers left the America East in the summer of 2013.
With her 14th career triple in the second game, Younan moved into a tie for fourth at BU with Jamie Haas ('05) and Jayme Mask ('14).
Younan also moved in a tie for sixth with Melissa Dubay ('09) for career hits (209) and in sole possession of seventh in runs scored (122).
In the second contest, Younan became the seventh Terrier to ever score four runs in one game.
Annerino, Dubois, Magane and Kipfmiller combined for 19 strikeouts in 15.0 innings of work ... All four though gave up a homer to the Hawks, who entered the DH with four homers on the season.
Wong, Morrow and Heinen all had four hits apiece, while Ponce had a team-high four RBIs in the DH.

NEXT UP: NOR'EASTER INVITATIONAL DAY TWO

The Terriers will remain at Hartford and next face Iona (1 p.m.) and Bryant (3 p.m.) on Saturday afternoon.
BU last met the Gaels in the 2012 NCAA regionals with the Terriers pulling out a 4-3, 13-inning win.
The Bulldogs are led by former Terrier Shayne Lotito ('09), who ranks seventh all-time at BU in batting average (.334).