LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Highlighted by sophomore Ali DuBois' strong pitching performance and three multi-RBI extra-base hits, the Boston University softball team opened the Louisville Slugger Invitational with a 6-0 morning win over San Diego State at Long Beach State and then a 7-6 thrilling victory over five-time defending West Coast Conference champion BYU on Friday afternoon at UCLA. 

With the doubleheader sweep, the Terriers (10-5) are off to their best start since opening the 2012 season at an identical 10-5. DuBois (7-1) scattered four hits over seven innings with the help of four strikeouts to earn her third shutout of the season against the Aztecs (11-10), as sophomore Maya Kipfmiller delivered a game-changing three-RBI double in the third inning. The reigning Patriot League Pitcher of the Year DuBois then appeared in relief to hold the Cougars (10-10) to just one run and four hits over the final four innings in a contest featuring two-run homers by both freshman Nicole Amodio and senior Alex Heinen. 

Becoming the first Terrier other than the 2018 PL Player of the Year Heinen to start behind home plate since 2017, Amodio recorded three RBIs against BYU. More importantly, she made a game-saving tag at home in the sixth on a strike thrown from senior second baseman Emily Morrow after the Cougars doubled toward sophomore Marina Sylvestri in right. Morrow was one of four to score two runs Friday alongside senior Alexa Ponce, Heinen and sophomore Jen Horita.

GAME ONE: BU 6, San Diego State 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams loaded the bases in the first with a combined five walks and error but were unable to get on the scoreboard.
• SDSU threatened in the second again with a one-out single, misplayed sacrifice bunt and walk, but DuBois got a pair of ground outs to end the threat.
• BU quickly applied pressure again in the third with Morrow singling through the left side and taking second on Heinen's walk.
• After the outfield committed an error on Ponce's ball that allowed Morrow to score and Sylvestri drew a walk, Kipfmiller emptied the bases with a three-RBI double for the 4-0 advantage.
• Amodio later followed with an RBI single to plate the pinch-runner Emily Gant to extend the lead to 5-0.
• Horita added one more run in the sixth by walking to first and eventually reaching home with the help of two wild pitches.
• SDSU managed just three hits over the final five innings for the loss.

GAME TWO: BU 7, BYU 6

THE FINAL THREE INNINGS

• After pitching a scoreless fourth in relief for the Terriers, DuBois allowed a one-out solo homer in the fifth, as BYU cut a seven-run deficit to 7-6.
• BU tried to extend the lead in the sixth on freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner's double and Morrow's walk, but the Cougars got a grounder and strikeout to end the threat.
• Seeking the game-tying run, the Cougars hit a one-out infield single and then a two-out double, but BU was able to get the tag in time at home to preserve the 7-6 lead as the runner tried to score from second.
• DuBois had little time to relax between innings, as BYU got the quick 1-2-3 on six pitches in the top of the seventh.
• A previous winner against then-No. 18 Baylor, the Cougars led off the seventh with a single and sacrifice bunt, but BYU was unable to get the ball out of the infield against DuBois with back-to-back ground outs for the loss.

THE SETUP

• BU grabbed the lead for good in the second when Ponce singled to left center, advanced to second on Kipfiller's walk, moved to third on Sylvestri's infield grounder and scored on senior Madi Killebrew's sac fly to right.
• Amodio followed with a two-run blast to right center for the 3-0 advantage.
• Morrow kept BU on the attack by drawing a lead-off walk in the third and scoring on Heinen's two-run homer down the left field line.
• The Terriers then loaded the bases on Ponce's double, Sylvestri's walk and Killebrew's hit-by-pitch before Amodio and senior Analisa Ruff delivered back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 7-0.
• After going hitless through the first two innings against freshman Julia Handfield, BYU clawed its way back into the game with five runs off six hits and an error.
• With two outs and two on, the Cougars hit a two-RBI double and RBI single against Handfield before adding two more runs against Gant.
• BU had an opportunity to add more runs in the fourth with Huerta-Leipner and Morrow hitting back-to-back singles, but BYU ended the threat with three straight outs.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

• With the two wins, DuBois moved past former PL Pitcher of the Year Melanie Russell ('16) and Lauren Hynes ('16) to claim sole possession of the No. 10 spot in the BU record book at 35 career victories.
• Heinen now has five homers this season after totaling three last year and moved into a tie-for-seventh all-time with Shayne Lotito ('09) at 18 HRs.
• Heinen also now owns 134 career RBIs, six shy of the school record held by former All-American April Setterlund ('11).
• Both Morrow and Amodio tallied three hits apiece on the day with Morrow posting a .750 on-base percentage. 
• The Terriers only batted .250 in the DH but owned a .437 on-base percentage by earning 15 total walks.
• BU moved to 1-1 all-time against BYU following a 9-0(5) loss in 2017.
• The Terriers have also now won three straight by a combined score of 12-2 against the Aztecs after dropping the first four in the series.

NEXT UP: ROBERT MORRIS AND LIBERTY

• The Terriers will remain at UCLA and face the Colonials (1 p.m. ET) and Flames (3:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday.
• BU dropped the last meeting to RMU back in 2013 (2-1) and won the last meeting against Liberty in 2008 (2-0).
• The Flames went 49-14 last season with a 2-2 record at the NCAA regionals.