Softball Claims Third Patriot League Title With 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Lehigh

Saturday, May 12

Boston, MA

10 AM

Boston University

39-18

Lehigh (Patriot League Final)

24-26-1

Lehigh

Boston University

Photo by: Mike Broglio

Softball Claims Third Patriot League Title With 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Lehigh

May 12, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

BOSTON – Headed by a six-run inning in the bottom of the fourth, the top-seeded Boston University softball team will make its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance as it claimed its third Patriot League Tournament title with an 8-0 run-rule decision over No. 3 Lehigh Saturday morning at home.

In a rematch of last season's championship series, the Terriers (39-18) strung together a pair of runs on a two-out rally in the third before breaking the game open in the fourth with six runs on five hits. For the second consecutive day, junior Madi Killebrew provided the game-changing highlight with a bases-clearing triple that helped her set a new PL Tournament record with 10 RBIs and claim Tournament MVP honors. Reigning PL Pitcher and Rookie of the Year Ali DuBois (28-7) also posted a banner day, as she set the program single-season win record with her 28th victory in the circle after limiting the Mountain Hawks (24-26-1) to just one hit over five innings.

Third-year head coach Ashley Waters and the squad will learn their NCAA regional destination on Sunday night at 10 p.m. on ESPN2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Lehigh's Parker Boyd and DuBois set the tone with a pitcher's duel to start the game, as senior Brittany Younan's leadoff single in the bottom of the first stood as the lone hit through the first two frames.
DuBois continued her stellar postseason as she struck out the side in the top of the third.
In the bottom half of the frame, Younan started a two-out rally by working a walk before fellow senior Emma Wong delivered the first run of the game, lining a double up the middle to plate Younan.
Reigning PL Player of the Year Alex Heinen kept the rally going with an RBI single through the 5-6 hole to push the scoreboard to 2-0.
Lehigh had a chance to tie the game as it worked a one-out walk and followed with double off the wall to put runners in scoring position.
DuBois buckled down, however, and fanned the ensuing Mountain Hawk before Younan put away the final out to help BU escaped the threat.
Senior Jilee Schanda opened the bottom of the fourth with a shot through the left side and hustled to second to stretch our a double.
Junior Emily Morrow followed with a triple to deep right to bring home Schanda.
Junior Alexa Ponce executed a perfect suicide squeeze as Morrow crossed home plate easily to extend the lead.
With the bases loaded, senior Kaitlin Sahlinger came across on a fielder's choice as BU reloaded the bases.
Killebrew broke the game open with a bases-clearing triple to right to make it a 8-0 game.
Three outs away from the championship, DuBois retired Lehigh in order, inducing a pair of ground outs before closing the game with her fifth strikeout.

GAME NOTES

For the tournament, Killebrew batted a blistering 5-for-10 with a PL tournament record 10 RBIs and two runs scored ... She delivered a 1.200 slugging percentage in the three contests by earning two doubles, a triple and game-changing three-run homer against Bucknell in Friday's contest.
Killebrew was joined on the All-Tournament team by Younan (5-for-8, 6 runs), Wong (6-for-10, 4 RBIs, 4 runs) and DuBois (3-0, 1.71 ERA, 16 K in 16.1 IP).
The Terriers captured their 12th conference tournament title and will make their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years.
BU has picked up a 3-0 sweep in each of its Patriot League Tournament championships, sweeping in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Saturday marked the first time BU has won a conference championship on its home field since winning the America East title in 2012.
The five-inning win marks the first time BU has run-ruled Lehigh in the 22-game series.

UP NEXT: SELECTION SUNDAY