FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Boosted by stellar pitching in the circle and a pair of timely two-RBI extra-base hits, the Boston University softball team earned a doubleheader sweep with victories over Montana (3-2) and Marist (2-0) on Friday evening at the Razorback Invitational.
Sophomore
Aliyah Huerta-Leipner proved key on the offensive end for the Terriers (11-2), as she scored two runs in the first contest against the Grizzlies (5-7) and added a two-run bomb against the Red Foxes (3-3) while also throwing a bullet home from center to preserve the shutout. Junior
Ali DuBois (7-2, SV 3) was dynamite in the circle, combining for 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work to gain sole possession of third place in the program record book at 58 wins while also moving into a tie-for-eighth in the Patriot League record book at six career saves.
Sophomore
Emily Gant (4-0) earned the start in the nightcap with Marist and posted seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings against just three hits allowed to remain unbeaten on the season. In the first contest, freshman
Lizzy Avery delivered a pinch-hit two-RBI double in the sixth, and junior
Patricia Dun broke a 2-2 deadlock in the seventh with an RBI single.
GAME ONE: BU 3, Montana 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Terriers had a great opportunity to strike first in the opening inning with lead-off walk by freshman Caitlin Coker and single by Huerta-Leipner.
- Junior Marina Sylvestri put them in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but the Grizzlies were able to earn a strikeout and ground out to keep BU off the scoreboard.
- Both DuBois and former Big Sky tournament MVP Michaela Hood had seven strikeouts apiece to keep the contest scoreless through five innings.
- Huerta-Leipner started the sixth by advancing to second on an error and Sylvestri's infield single.
- Avery delivered the two-RBI double to center for the 2-0 advantage.
- The Grizzlies charged back in the bottom half with a one-out single, RBI double, single and RBI groundout.
- Montana added a walk to put two on, but DuBois earned a swinging strikeout to keep the game tied.
- The Terriers retook the lead in the seventh with two outs, as Huerta-Leipner walked, advanced to third on Sylvestri's single and scored on Dun's RBI single.
- Finishing at 121 pitches, DuBois gave up a one-out single and two-out walk before Montana popped up to third.
GAME TWO: BU 2, Marist 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gant set the tone for the game with two strikeouts in the top of the first.
- Coker started the bottom half with a walk before Huerta-Leipner launched a 1-2 pitch to right for the game's only two runs.
- Marist hit a two-out double to right in the second before Gant got a fly out to right.
- Sophomore Nicole Amodio started the fifth by singling to center and moving to second on Dun's sac bunt, but reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week Kiley Myers induced a ground out and pop up to keep the game 2-0.
- The Red Foxes hit a pair of singles against Gant and followed up with a two-out single against DuBois to center, but Huerta-Leipner stepped up with an impressive throw to home to set up freshman Audrey Sellers' tag.
- After BU lined into a double play with two on base in the top of the seventh, Marist earned a pair of walks against DuBois.
- The two-time reigning PL Pitcher of the Week got a strike out looking to earn the save.
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
- The Terriers have recorded seven shutouts through 13 games after posting 15 total last season in 57 contests.
- Huerta-Leipner owns four homers after tallying seven total last year.
- DuBois moved to a tie-for-10th in complete games at 41 in the BU record book.
- The Terriers won their first-ever meeting with Montana.
- They also snapped a four-game losing streak to Marist after suffering DH sweeps in 2016 and 2017.
NEXT UP: South Dakota St. & No. 21/23 Arkansas
- The Terriers will conclude the Razorback Invitational with a doubleheader on Saturday.
- BU will first meet the Jackrabbits at 11 a.m. ET in the first meeting between the two teams since the Terriers claimed a 10-7 victory in 2008.
- The Terriers will then try to avenge Thursday's 4-1 defeat against the host Razorbacks.
