Terrier Pitching Duo Shines in DH Split at Nor'easter Classic

Sunday, March 24

West Hartford, CT

9 AM

Boston University

13-14

Siena

3-10

Boston University

SIENA

Emily Gant is in wind-up motion before throwing pitch.

Photo by: Doug Waters

Terrier Pitching Duo Shines in DH Split at Nor'easter Classic

March 24, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Siena Box (W, 5-1)Iona Box (L, 1-0)

WEST HARTFORD & NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Allowing just five combined hits with the help of 21 strikeouts, the Boston University softball team came away with a doubleheader split at the Nor'easter Classic co-hosted by Hartford and Central Connecticut State on Sunday.

The Terriers (13-15) provided three homers to help sophomore Ali DuBois (10-6) claim a 5-1 morning victory over Siena (3-10), as she held the Saints to three hits. BU's offense though stranded nine on base in a 1-0 afternoon loss to Iona (2-15), who struck out 15 times against freshman Emily Gant (2-7). The 15 strikeouts were the most by a Terrier since 2016 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Melanie Russell ('16) had 15 at Colgate on May 7, 2016.

GAME 1: BU 5, Siena 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

Siena started off the first with a hit-by-pitch and single, but DuBois got a pop up, strike out and ground out to end the threat.
In the top of the second, sophomore Marina Sylvestri followed up on freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner's walk with a one-out single, but the Saints turned a 5-3 double play to keep the game scoreless.
The Terriers took the lead for good in the fourth after senior Alexa Ponce drew a two-out walk and scored on Huerta-Leipner's two-run blast to right.
Senior Madi Killebrew (5th) and Ponce (6th) both hit a lead-off homer over the next two innings to extend the lead to 4-0.
Huerta-Leipner added another run by doubling to center and eventually scoring on Killebrew's sac fly to right.
Siena avoided the shutout with a two-out solo homer to center in the bottom of the sixth.
DuBois sealed the victory with three strikeouts in the seventh.

GAME 2: Iona 1, BU 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gant followed up on DuBois' performance by striking out the first three batters of the game.
Gant led off the bottom half with a single and stolen base before being stranded at third, as the Terriers were unable to get the ball out of the infield against 2018 MaxPreps Second Team All-American Kara Zazzaro (2-5).
BU loaded the bases in the second on freshman Nicole Amodio's single and a pair of walks before grounding out on a hard hit ball up the middle that was stopped by Iona's second baseman.
Gant was unlucky in the fifth as her hard hit ball went off the pitcher's leg for a 1-4-3 groundout.
Senior Emily Morrow followed with a one-out double to left center, but again, the Terriers were unable to get on the scoreboard with consecutive ground outs.
Iona took advantage of the missed opportunities by doubling to left with a ball that just went over Sylvestri's outstretched arm on the left field fence.
After Natalia Meray broke up Gant's no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth, Marisa Gergel singled up the middle for the game's lone run.
Gant struck out three batters for the third time in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Maya Kipfmiller hit an infield single with one out in the bottom half before Gant got on base via an Iona error.
The Terriers stranded both on base with a pop up and ground out for the shutout loss.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

With her two-run blast, Huerta-Leipner moved to second on the team with three homers, while Ponce became the sixth Terrier to go deep this season.
The Terriers had three homers in one game for the first time since beating CCSU last year, 12-9, in eight innings at home and for the first time in seven innings since beating UAB, 5-3, in 2017 in Florida.
BU owns 15 homers through 28 games after recording 20 last season in 59 contests.
BU finished with a combined 11 hits while allowing five total in the doubleheader but has now been shut out eight times after suffering five shutout losses last year.
BU dropped to 2-6 this season in one-run decisions.
The Terriers won the first-ever meeting with Siena and moved to 6-1 all-time against Iona after winning both games last season, including a 4-2 eight-inning victory at Hartford in the 2018 Nor'easter Classic.

NEXT UP: RHODE ISLAND

The Terriers will begin a five-game homestand by hosting Rhode Island on Thursday (March 28) at 4 p.m.
BU is 30-2 all-time against the Rams, last claiming a 7-4 win in 2014.