BOSTON – After recognizing the senior class, the Boston University softball team used a season-high 15 hits to overcome Army's grand slam and complete the home weekend series sweep, 11-6, on Sunday morning.
Freshman
Nicole Amodio recorded the go-ahead two-RBI single in the seven-run third inning and added a three-run blast in the fourth, while sophomore
Jen Horita collected a personal-best four hits to help the Terriers (32-17, 14-1 PL) end the regular season with a perfect 15-0 home record. Sophomore
Ali DuBois (21-8) allowed six hits in 4.2 innings of work, and freshman
Emily Gant pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief to seal the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After both teams stranded two runners apiece in the first inning, Army struck first in the second with Emily Ballesteros' two-out grand slam to left following a pair of walks and single.
- Horita earned her first-career triple in the bottom half but was stranded in scoring position alongside Amodio, who had walked and swiped second with two outs.
- The Terriers committed three errors in the top of the third, but DuBois was able to get out of the jam with three ground outs.
- BU then took the lead for good with seven runs off seven hits, including two-RBI hits from senior Alexa Ponce (double), Amodio (single) and senior Emily Morrow (single), who had led off the inning with a single.
- Senior Analisa Ruff also had an RBI single for the 7-4 lead.
- Taylor Drayton responded with a two-out RBI single against DuBois in the fourth to cut the deficit to two runs.
- The Terriers put the game away in the bottom half after senior Madi Killebrew doubled to left center and took third on Ponce's single.
- With two outs, Horita hit a successful RBI bunt single, and Amodio followed with a three-run blast on the first pitch for the 11-5 lead.
- Army took advantage of two BU errors in the fifth with a two-out RBI single, but Gant then entered the circle to retire the final seven batters.
GAME NOTES
- The Terriers finished the regular season with a perfect home record for the second time in program history and first since posting an 18-0 record in 2001.
- BU's 15 hits topped the previous high of 14 set against Rider back on Feb. 8.
- Horita's four hits matched Morrow's performance against UConn back on Feb. 15 for the season high by a Terrier.
- Army became the first PL squad to avoid being shut out by the Terriers but allowed double-digit runs for just the fifth time this season.
- BU improved to 15-10 all-time in the series and matched a personal-best 11 runs after earning an 11-1 win on April 16.
- The Terriers are now 14-1 in the PL standings and will need to win two games at Bucknell (13-2 PL) next weekend to earn the right to host the PL tournament for the second consecutive year.
NEXT UP: BROWN
- The Terriers will next conclude the non-conference slate with a visit to Brown on Wednesday (May 1) at 4 p.m.
- BU is 16-1-1 in the series after losing the first 10 meetings from 1988-1993 and won the last matchup, 7-3, on the road in 2016.