PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Highlighted by another strong performance in the circle from two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Ali DuBois, the Boston University softball team opened the 2021 season with a doubleheader split at Providence on Sunday afternoon.

The senior fanned 10 Friars for her 11th career double-digit strikeout performance and was helped by a pair of homers for the 4-0 game one victory. Providence's Tori Grifone avenged the loss by limiting BU in the rematch to just four hits in a 2-0 game two win over the Terriers.

Freshman Lauren Keleher led the BU offense in the first contest with a two-run blast and double. Junior Emily Gant also went yard with a pinch-hit insurance homer before starting the second contest in the circle. Sophomore Caitlin Coker and senior Jen Horita were the two Terriers to earn a hit in both games.

GAME 1: BU 4, Providence 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After allowing two walks, DuBois earned two swinging strikeouts to keep the game scoreless in the bottom of the first, as the Friars stranded two on base.
• Senior Marina Sylvestri led the top of the second with a walk before reaching home on Keleher's two-run blast to center.
• DuBois allowed a walk in the fourth before recording three straight strikeouts to maintain the 2-0 advantage.
• Gant homered down the left field line with two outs in the fifth to push the lead to 3-0.
• DuBois got the Friars to line into a double play in the bottom half.
• Sylvestri started the sixth with a single before freshman pinch-runner Raegan Kelly moved to third on Keleher's double to left center.
• Horita provided the final run with an RBI single down the left field line.
• Trying to mount a rally, Providence had two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the seven thanks to a double and fielding error.
• DuBois claimed the shutout on a strikeout and grounder to short.

GAME 2: Providence 2, BU 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• BU looked to strike again in the top of the first with both Coker and Keleher earning walks, but Grifone ended the threat on a strikeout.
• After stranding two on base themselves, the Friars loaded the bases in the bottom of the second on two singles and fielding error.
• Providence plated its first run on a single against Gant and added another RBI single against sophomore relief pitcher Lizzy Avery to push the lead to 2-0.
• On the last hit, junior Aliyah Huerta-Leipner threw home to Amodio to prevent a third runner from scoring and keeping the score at 2-0.
• Coker led off the third with a walk and took second on freshman Kayla Roncin's single, but Grifone earned a fly out and ground out to maintain the shutout.
• After Providence earned a single in the bottom of the third, sophomore Allison Boaz entered the circle and pitched four hitless innings with three strikeouts.
• The Terriers stranded two more runners in the fifth after Horita and Huerta-Leipner earned a pair of singles.
• Trying to provide a spark, Coker tripled to center with two outs in the top of the seventh before Grifone earned her seventh strikeout for the victory.

GAME NOTES

• DuBois increased her strikeout total to 498 to grab the No. 7 spot in the PL record book, 48 behind the next pitcher.
• DuBois now needs one more win to tie for sixth all-time in the PL at 62 victories.
• BU opened a season with a shutout for the first time since blanking Southern Illinois - Edwardsville, 4-0, in 2011.
• BU moved to 21-16-1 all-time against Providence after the Friars snapped the Terriers' eight-game unbeaten streak that dated back to 2009 in the series.

NEXT UP: Providence

• BU will play two more games at Providence on Monday (March 8) starting at 1 p.m.
• The Terriers will play a non-conference opponent in four straight games for the first time in program history.