DELAND, Fla. – Boosted by strong pitching performances from junior Ali DuBois and sophomore Emily Gant, the two-time defending Patriot League champion Boston University softball team edged defending Southland Conference champion Sam Houston State, 2-1, on Sunday morning at the Stetson Lead-Off Classic.

Besides allowing just four hits in four innings of work, Gant (2-0) helped her cause with an RBI single, as the Terriers (5-0) moved within one win of matching the last 6-0 start at BU by the 1993 squad. The two-time PL Pitcher of the Year DuBois collected her fourth career save in fiery fashion, striking out seven Bearkats (2-3) over the final three innings in relief. Junior Marina Sylvestri added what proved to be the game-winning RBI off a sac fly during the bottom of the third.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• SHSU had two runners on to start the game thanks to an infield error and walk, but freshman Audrey Sellers was able to throw out a Bearkat trying to steal third.
• Gant ended the threat with her first of two strikeouts.
• The Bearkats started the third with a bunt single and ground-rule double, but again, BU's defense came up big by turning a liner to short into a double play.
• In the bottom half, Sellers reached base on an infield error and took second on junior Jen Horita's bunt single.
• After BU loaded the bases with one out, Gant singled to right and Sylvestri plated Horita on a fly ball to left.
• The Bearkats tried to mount a rally in the fourth with a but single, walk and RBI single to center to put two in scoring position.
• Gant preserved the lead by getting a pair of fly outs.
• BU stranded five runners on base over the final three innings at the plate, but DuBois didn't need any more run support.
• DuBois retired all nine batters she faced and struck out all three in the seventh for the save.  

GAME NOTES

• Both DuBois (3-0, 1 SV, 0.70 ERA) and sophomore Aliyah Huerta-Leipner (.500 avg., 1 HR,  7 RBIs, 6 runs) were two of the eight players named to the Lead-Off Classic's All-Tournament team.
• With seven strikeouts today, DuBois gained sole possession of fifth place in the BU record book at 415 career strikeouts, which are No. 10 in the PL record book.
• Following her RBI single, Gant owns four RBIs this season after totaling six last year.
• Sylvestri is also having an impressive start to the year at the plate, posting seven RBIs through five games after tallying 19 total through the first 98 appearances.
• BU moved to 3-1 all-time against SHSU following Friday's 9-3 victory.

NEXT UP: WINTHROP CLASSIC

• BU will remain down south and next compete at the three-day Winthrop Classic on Feb. 14-16.
• The Terriers will open against Georgetown (10 a.m.) and Towson (12:30 p.m.).