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.