BOSTON - Sophomore Ali DuBois scattered just two hits in a complete-game shutout, as the top-seeded Boston University softball team defeated fourth-seeded Colgate, 3-0, in the opening game of the 2019 Patriot League Championship on Thursday morning at BU Softball Field.

A two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, DuBois (22-9) improved to a perfect 4-0 all-time record in conference tournament play, striking out six and walking just one in her 18th complete game of the year. She retired 14 Raiders (25-26) in a row at one point and did not allow a Colgate runner to reach third base, as the Terriers (35-18) remained unbeaten at home this year with a 16-0 record.

Seniors Alex Heinen, Emily Morrow and Alexa Ponce all went 2-for-3, with Heinen and Ponce both recording an RBI hit in the bottom of the first. Heinen also scored a run, as did Morrow. Sophomore Maya Kipfmiller provided a pinch-hit RBI single to knock in the Terriers' third run in the sixth.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers collected four hits in the first inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
• After Morrow singled, Heinen doubled down the left field line for the game's first run.
• Ponce then singled up the middle to plate Heinen.
• BU eventually loaded the bases, but Colgate escaped the jam when senior Madi Killebrew was tagged out at home trying to score on a fly out to the left fielder.
• The Terriers tried to get something going with two outs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to singles by Morrow and Heinen, but the Raiders got out of the inning unscathed.
• DuBois retired 14 straight hitters before Virginia Irby recorded her second hit of the day in the top of the sixth.
• Irby later advanced to second, but DuBois struck out Mia Guevarra swinging to end the inning.
• Ponce helped set up an insurance run by hitting a lead-off single that led to sophomore Marina Sylvestri's sacrifice bunt and Kipfmiller's RBI single.

GAME NOTES

• BU improved to 18-1 all-time against Colgate with their third shutout in four contests after meeting the Raiders in the PL tournament for the first time.
• The opening-round victory marked DuBois' 50th as a Terrier, tying Whitney Tuthill ('13) for the No. 5 spot in the BU record book.
• The Terriers are now 12-2 all-time in the PL tournament with both losses occurring in the 2017 championship round.

NEXT UP: LEHIGH PATRIOT LEAGUE SEMIFINALS

• The Terriers will face off against No. 3 seeded Lehigh, who stunned No. 2 Bucknell, 7-2, to join BU in the winner's bracket.
• The semifinal contest will take place Friday at 10 a.m. with the victor advancing to Sunday's championship round and the loser meeting the Bison at 12:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
• BU and Lehigh will meet in the PL tournament for the first time since the Terriers claimed the automatic NCAA berth last year, 8-0(5), at home.
• The Terriers went 2-1 at Lehigh earlier this season with a pair of 2-0 wins and 1-0 loss.