DELAND, Fla. – Resuming the offensive onslaught with stellar pitching in the circle, the Boston University softball claimed shutout wins against both George Mason (6-0) and Stetson (10-0) Saturday afternoon on day two of the Stetson Lead-Off Classic.
While hitting a two-RBI double, sophomore
Emily Gant (1-0) pitched 4.1 no-hit innings against the host Hatters (1-2) after junior
Ali DuBois (3-0) fanned 10 Patriots (0-3) to help the Terriers start a season 4-0 for the first time since 1993. At the plate, sophomore
Aliyah Huerta-Leipner and freshman
Caitlin Coker went a combined 8-of-13 with six RBIs and five runs scored to lead the offense. Freshman
Audrey Sellers collected three singles and a walk en route to three runs scored as well.
GAME 1: BU 6, George Mason 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Huerta-Leipner led the bottom of the first with a single, took third on Coker's single through the right side and scored on Grant's RBI ground out to first.
- Junior Marina Sylvestri followed with an RBI bunt single to extend the lead to 2-0.
- Junior Patricia Dun and sophomore Nicole Amodio loaded the bases on back-to-back singles, but George Mason got the line out double play to prevent further damage.
- GMU started the second with infield single, sac bunt and stolen base before DuBois ended the threat on a strikeout and foul out.
- The Terriers added three more runs with Dun's third-inning RBI single and Coker's fourth-inning two-RBI double.
- The Patriots threatened again in the sixth thanks to a lead-off single and double, but DuBois earned a pop up and back-to-back swinging strikeouts.
- Sellers added another run by singling to second, stealing second, advancing to third on a throwing error and scoring on Huerta-Leipner's sac fly.
- Freshman Lizzy Avery replaced DuBois in the seventh and tallied two more strikeouts against two hits to preserve the shutout.
GAME 2: BU 10, Stetson 0 (5 inn.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- BU applied immediate pressure on the Hatters with six runs off four hits and an error in the top of the first.
- Gant delivered a two-RBI double to plate both Huerta-Leipner (single) and Coker (hit-by-pitch).
- After both Sylvestri and Dun laid down successful sac bunts without giving up an out, Avery hit an RBI single to right to help set up junior Jen Horita's two-RBI double that prompted a pitching change.
- Sellers started the third on a single and eventually scored following two ground outs and a rundown situation created by Coker between first and second.
- Stetson had a base runner reach first on an error in the bottom half, but Sellers was able to catch the runner attempting to steal second.
- The Terriers put the game away in the fifth on Huerta-Leipner's bases-clearing double to right center.
- The Hatters prevented the starter Gant from earning her first no-hitter with a pair of one-out singles beofre she got out of the jam on two grounders.
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
- The 1993 squad had a 6-0 start en route to a 35-7 finish and North Atlantic Conference title.
- After posting 10 strikeouts, DuBois eclipsed 400 strikeouts (408 total) and is just six away from grabbing sole possession of No. 5 in the BU career record book.
- DuBois grabbed the No. 10 slot in the Patriot League record book for strikeouts and is two wins away (currently 54) from reaching the top 10 as well.
- Gant collected her fifth career shutout in her first appearance in the circle this season.
- Appearing in three games already, Avery has tallied eight strikeouts in four combined innings of work.
- Tallying three multi-hit performances already after earning 14 a year prior, Huerta-Leipner is the lone Terrier to hit successfully in all four games and is one of three alongside Amodio and Coker to successfully reach base all four contests.
- BU improved to 4-0 all-time against GMU in the first meeting since 2008 and 2-1 all-time against Stetson following Friday's 2-0 win.
NEXT UP: SAM HOUSTON STATE
- BU will end the tournament Sunday (Feb. 9) morning with a rematch against defending Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State at 10 a.m.
- The Terriers claimed a 9-3 victory in Friday's season opener with an 11-10 advantage in hits.
- The Bearkats had a split on Saturday, posting 6-1 win vs. George Mason and 3-2 loss to Stetson.