FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year
Alex Heinen hit a pair of game-changing homers while also helping guide sophomore
Ali DuBois and freshman
Emily Gant to a pair of pitching gems to open the Wooo Pig Classic with victories over Northwestern State and Omaha by a combined score of 7-1 on Friday afternoon at Bogle Park.
With the two victories, the Terriers (8-3) extend their win streak to seven games and also help reigning Patriot League Coach of the Year
Ashley Waters reach the 100-win milestone in her fourth year at the helm. In game one against the Lady Demons (8-8), Heinen recorded a fourth-inning solo homer and watched DuBois (5-0) scatter three hits for the 1-0 victory. Heinen then delivered a three-run blast in the third inning against Omaha (1-11) to help BU claim a 6-1 win with Gant (2-2) holding the Mavericks to four hits and an unearned run.
DuBois and Gant combined for 16 strikeouts against just one walk in 14 innings of work, as DuBois moved into No. 7 all-time at BU with 13 career shutouts. Heinen also moved up the rankings into a tie-for-eighth alongside 2007 America East Player of the Year Christy Leath ('09) at 16 career homers apiece.
GAME ONE: BU 1, Northwestern State 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Lady Demons opened the game with a single and sacrifice bunt but were unable to plate the runner, as DuBois induced a pair of ground outs to end the threat.
- BU had its first quality look at getting on the scoreboard in the third with a hit-by-pitch and walk but ended by stranding two runners on base.
- After DuBois struck out two batters in the top of the fourth, Heinen led off the bottom half with a solo shot to left for the game's lone run.
- NSU made one final push in the sixth with back-to-back one-out singles, but again, DuBoi stood strong by getting a force out at third on a grounder and then fly out to center.
- Senior Alexa Ponce collected two more ground balls in the top of the seventh and threw to freshman Nicole Amodio at first to seal the victory.
GAME TWO: BU 6, Nebraska-Omaha 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ponce put BU ahead for good in the top of the second by singling down the right field line, stealing second, reaching third on Gant's sacrifice bunt and scoring on sophomore Marina Sylvestri's RBI single to center.
- The Mavericks drew a lead-off walk in the bottom half but were unable to advance the runner past first.
- In the third, Heinen extended the lead to 4-0 with a three-run blast after freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner walked and senior Emily Morrow doubled.
- Huerta-Leipner added another run in the fifth by walking a second time, reaching second on Morrow's grounder, advancing to third on a wild pitch and stepping on home plate thanks to Heinen's infield grounder.
- The Mavericks avoided the shutout by taking advantage of a throwing error with an RBI double to left center in the bottom half.
- Sophomore pinch-hitter Maya Kipfmiller helped provide more pressure on the Mavs by leading off the seventh with a single.
- Amodio returned to the field for Kipfmiller and eventually scored thanks to senior Analisa Ruff's infield single, Huerta-Leipner's grounder and Morrow's sacrifice fly to left.
- After striking out her ninth batter Gant allowed an infield single but then induced a fly out to left for the victory.
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
- BU faced both Northwestern State and Omaha for the first time in program history.
- Heinen has recorded eight of her team-high 13 RBIs in the last three games and now ranks No. 2 all-time with 130 RBIs, just 10 shy of the school record held by three-time All-American April Setterlund ('11).
- The Terriers last earned a 1-0 victory against fellow Patriot League member Bucknell on April 28, 2018, at home and against a non-conference opponent at San Diego State on March 4.
- Sylvestri tied Heinen with two hits on the day.
- Gant tossed a season-high nine strikeouts against the Mavs after claiming 12 total in her first 14.1 innings of work.
NEXT UP: ARKANSAS
- BU will next face the tournament host and No. 14-nationally ranked Razorbacks twice on Saturday (March 2) with first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 4:30 p.m. ET.
- The two teams met once at the 2012 NCAA Regionals host by top national seed Cal with No. 2 seed Arkansas edging No. 3 BU, 3-2.
