Softball Clinches Share of PL Regular Season Title with DH Split at Bucknell

Saturday, May 4

Lewisburg, PA

12 PM

Boston University

34-17, 15-1

Bucknell

26-22, 13-3

Boston University

Bucknell

Softball team huddles after earning a third out.

Photo by: Rich Gagnon

Softball Clinches Share of PL Regular Season Title with DH Split at Bucknell

May 4, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 G1 Box (W, 3-2)G2 Box (L, 4-1)Coach Postgame

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Competing in a tightly-contested doubleheader, the Boston University softball team clinched a share of the Patriot League regular season title with a doubleheader split at Bucknell on Saturday afternoon.

In game one, sophomore Marina Sylvestri and senior Analisa Ruff earned a pair of two-out RBI hits to help lead the Terriers (34-18, 15-2 PL) to a 3-2 victory. The Bison (27-22, 14-3 PL) rebounded in the second contest with back-to-back two-out, two-RBI singles up the middle to snap BU's 14-game win streak, 4-1. The split sets up a massive showdown for Sunday at 2 p.m., as the winner will earn hosting rights for next week's Patriot League tournament.

Sophomore and reigning PL Pitcher of the Year Ali DuBois (21-9) pitched the final eight innings of the doubleheader, first claiming a two-inning save for freshman Emily Gant (12-7) and then the loss on four unearned runs despite tallying six strikeouts. 2018 All-PL First Team pitcher Raeanne Geffert (15-12) held the Terriers to just one run and seven hits over the last 10 innings.

GAME 1: BU 3, Bucknell 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Terriers were immediately on the attack Lauren Lichtenwalner with three runs off five hits in the top of the first inning.
Senior Alex Heinen followed freshman Aliyah Huerta-Leipner's single and senior Emily Morrow's walk with a single to right, but the Bison managed to throw Huerta-Leipner out at home.
Killebrew loaded the bases on an infield single, and Sylvestri later hit a two-out RBI single to right for the game's first run.
Ruff singled to left, and Bucknell mishandled the ball, allowing two runs to score.
The Bison loaded the bases in the bottom half on two walks and a single before hitting an infield RBI single for their first run.
Bucknell added a second run in the bottom of the second by taking advantage of a walk and two errors to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Sophomore Jen Horita tripled to center with two outs in the fourth and was joined in scoring position by freshman Nicole Amodio following a hit-by-pitch and stolen base, but Lichtenwalner ended the threat with a fly out to left.
The Bison only managed one hit in the final four innings against Gant and DuBois, as the Terriers extended their win streak to 14 games.

GAME 2: Bucknell 4, BU 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anna Gimmestand doubeld to left center with two outs in the bottom of the first, but DuBois earned her second strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
The Bison started the third with back-to-back singles before DuBois tallied back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out.
BU had a great opportunity to grab the lead in the fourth with two runners in scoring position and zero outs following Heinen's single and a hit-by-pitch.
Geffert though got out of the jam with a strikeout, infield ground out and pop up.
Bucknell took advantage of a BU error with a single and walk that helped set up back-to-back two-out, two-RBI singles for the 4-0 advantage.
The Terriers avoided the shutout in the fifth with singles by Horita and Huerta-Leipner that set up Morrow's RBI sac fly to right.
BU stranded two on base in the sixth and was quickly retired in the seventh for the loss.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

BU's 14-game win streak was one shy of last year's season high, also snapped by Bucknell, and marked the fifth longest in program history.
Both Horita and Huerta-Leipner had three hits apiece on the day, while Jess Hom led the Bison with four hits.
The Terriers finished with a 13-11 advantage in hits for the doubleheader, as DuBois and Gant combined for nine strikeouts.
BU moved to 12-7 all-time against Bucknell and 3-4 in Lewisburg.

NEXT UP: BUCKNELL

The Terriers will wrap up the series and regular season on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The matchup will be streamed live on the Patriot League Network at PatriotLeague.tv.
Whoever wins the game will earn PL tournament hosting rights on May 9-11.