BOSTON – Senior Kaitlin Sahlinger went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and freshman Ali DuBois allowed just one hit to help lead the top-seeded Boston University softball team to an 8-0 victory in five innings over fourth-seeded Army West Point in the opening game of the Patriot League Tournament.

The host Terriers (37-18) will face second-seeded Bucknell (26-21-1) on Friday morning at 11 a.m. The Bison bested No. 3 Lehigh, 3-1, in the second game of the afternoon to earn a rematch with BU.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU sent 12 Terriers to the plate in the home half of the first inning to stake itself a 6-0 lead.
• Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases for junior Madi Killebrew, who delivered a two-RBI single to shallow center to give BU a quick 2-0 advantage.
• Following a walk, two straight Terriers were hit by a pitch to make it 4-0 before junior Emily Morrow's infielder grounder helped another run score.
• Senior and All-PL First Team honoree Emma Wong's second single of the inning plated a sixth run.
• An All-PL Second Team member, Sahlinger drove in her second run of the game with a single in the bottom of the second to extend the lead to 7-0.
• She then ended the game on the highest of notes with a solo shot to right center in the bottom half of the fifth to seal the run-rule victory.
• The reigning PL Pitcher and Rookie of the Year DuBois struck out seven Black Knights in a dominant performance, allowing just one walk and a fourth-inning infield single.

GAME NOTES

• Thursday was Sahlinger's third three-RBI game of the season, as she extended her RBI total to 25.
• Sahlinger now owns four homers this season after recording just one in her first three years.
• DuBois has allowed just four earned runs over her last eight appearances and now owns 10 solo shutouts for sole possession of sixth place in the BU season record book ... She is just one shy of tying Army's Morgan Lashley (2012) for the PL record.
• DuBois' 26 wins this season are one shy of the school record and tied for third in the PL record book. 
• Wong finished 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI ... She was one one of four alongside Sahlinger, Killebrew and Morrow to reach home plate at least once and also plate a run.
• All nine Terriers that went to the plate in the bottom of the first reached base, as Army's All-PL First Team pitcher Courtney Springman (16-15) finished with five hits allowed, two walks and four HBPs in 1.2 innings of work.
• BU has earned at least two walks in each of its last five games.
• Hosting their first-ever PL tournament, the Terriers improved to 9-2 all-time in the event and a perfect 4-0 in the opening round.

NEXT UP: BUCKNELL

• The top-seeded Terriers will look to advance to the championship for a third straight year and fourth time in five seasons when they battle Bucknell on Friday morning.
• BU went 2-1 during the regular season against the Bison, with all three tilts taking place at BU Softball Field.
• The winner of that game will advance to Saturday's championship round while the loser will face the winner of Friday's second game between Army West Point and Lehigh (1:30 p.m.).