BU Trades Shutouts in DH Split at Louisville Slugger Invitational

Saturday, March 9

Los Angeles, CA

1 PM ET

Boston University

11-5

Robert Morris @ UCLA

3-15

Robert Morris

Boston University

Ali DuBois is in full windup on a pitch at home

Photo by: Doug Waters

BU Trades Shutouts in DH Split at Louisville Slugger Invitational

March 9, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Robert Morris Box (W, 4-0)Liberty Box (L, 5-0)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After sophomore Ali DuBois tallied eight strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Robert Morris, the Boston University softball team was undone by two errors in a 5-0 loss to 2018 NCAA regional finalist Liberty for the doubleheader split Saturday afternoon at the Louisville Slugger Invitational co-hosted by UCLA.

Senior Alex Heinen delivered a go-ahead two-run homer, her second of the tournament, in the first inning to help the Terriers (11-6) defeat the Colonials (3-15). 2018 Big South Pitcher of the Year Julia DiMartino (9-3) then scattered five hits over seven innings, as the Flames (15-7) claimed their 10th shutout in 11 games.

GAME 1: BU 4, Robert Morris 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

After DuBois (8-1) started the game with a pair of strikeouts, freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner led the bottom half off with a single through the right side.
Huerta-Leipner then took second on senior Emily Morrow's sacrifice bunt, stole third and finally reached home on Heinen's two-run blast down the left field line for the 2-0 advantage.
The Colonials had their best chance to get on the scoreboard with back-to-back singles to open the fourth, but DuBois earned a pair of swinging strikeouts and then a ground out to end the threat.
Senior Alexa Ponce, sophomore Maya Kipfmiller, senior Madi Killebrew and sophomore Marina Sylvestri followed with four consecutive singles to extend the lead to 3-0 in the bottom half.
BU added one more run in the fifth, as Heinen drew a two-out walk and scored from first on Ponce's RBI double to left center.
RMU managed a walk in the sixth and single in the seventh but was unable to advance the runners against DuBois for the loss.

GAME 2: Liberty 5, BU 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a lead-off single, the Flames drew a one-out walk and took advantage of an error and passed ball to grab a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Killebrew earned a two-out single in the second and sophomore Jen Horita reached base via error in the third, but in both innings, the Terriers were unable to advance the runners.
The Flames extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth against freshman Emily Gant with two more unearned runs off four singles and an error.
Sylvestri and Horita both had singles in the fifth before moving into scoring position on a passed ball, but DiMartino earned a strikeout to maintain the shutout.
Trying to claim a run-rule victory, Liberty managed to load the bases against freshman Julia Handfield in the sixth on two walks and a single with zero outs.
Junior Kali Magane then entered the circle and limited the Flames to just one run off a sac fly with the help of a strikeout and second fly out.
DiMartino quickly retired the side in the seventh to claim the win.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

DuBois claimed her fourth shutout of the season and the team's fifth overall while extending her career total to 15 blank sheets, four shy of BU Hall of Famer Shannon Downey's ('93) total that ranks sixth all-time in the program record book.
DuBois has 36 career wins, one shy of No. 9 Niclana Tolmasoff ('97).
Ponce led BU's offense with three hits, including a double, in the doubleheader while Heinen had two RBIs and two runs scored.
Heinen now owns 19 homers to move into sole possession of seventh place in the school record book, two shy of Amy Ekart ('14).
BU improved to 6-2 all-time against Robert Morris following a 2-1 loss in 2013.
The Flames moved to 3-1 all-time in their first meeting since the Terriers claimed a 2-0 victory in 2008.

NEXT UP: UCLA

The Terriers will conclude the tournament against the No. 2 Bruins at Long Beach State with first pitch set for 2:30 p.m. ET.
12-time national champion UCLA reached the Women's College World Series last year.
BU is facing the Bruins for the third straight year after dropping a 6-1 decision in 2017 and 10-2 result in 2018.