by Meg Kelly, Athletic Communications

Dirt and grass, two of the earth's simplest substances, combine to form the diamond of a softball field. Within that diamond is a sacred space, a place where friendships are born, where teammates become more than friends; they become sisters.
 
Located off the bay of San Mateo, California, lies Chanteloup Field, the bedrock of seniors Marina Sylvestri and Jen Horita's bond.
 
The pair has known each other since they met at the age of eight through softball. Playing on separate teams initially, Horita's parents split time between taxiing their three daughters to whichever sport was in season. Horita's mom mentioned to Sylvestri's mom that managing the trio's schedules proved to be challenging at times, and Sylvestri offered to drive the youngest, Jen, to ease the carpool.
 
Horita joined Sylvestri's team and the two have been inseparable since. Horita ended up transferring to Sylvestri's elementary school, and the pair was in school together from fifth through eighth grade.

"We've known each other since we were eight years old and never had a break from each other," Sylvestri laughed. "We're like sisters in a way, where we can have our moments, but we'll always trust each other and be close."
 
The duo decided to attend different high schools, though remained on the same travel ball team, the Cal Nuggets. As the recruiting process began, there was a chance for each to divert on separate tracks, but little did they know that their college destination would prove to be the same.
 
Sylvestri caught head coach Ashley Waters' eye one summer and started to look into BU. Though Horita was sidelined with an injury that season, she also ultimately landed on Water's radar and earned an offer as well.
 
Academically and athletically driven, the two were making their own choices for college independently. At the same time, they were being recruited and interested in the same schools, and each reached their separate verdict to attend BU.

"It was each our own individual decision," Horita acknowledged. "From what we liked about the school, the team, coach, that really brought both of us here by ourselves."
 
Nevertheless, it did help to have someone familiar by their side as they moved 3,000 miles away from their hometown.
 
"It made the decision definitely a little easier," echoed Sylvestri. "Especially moving across the country and being somewhere so new. It was like at least we have this person with us."
 
Stepping onto campus as freshmen, the California products competed against each other for playing time and earned roles on a loaded 2018 team that produced a 39-20 record. The Terriers earned their biggest win in program history in upsetting No. 1 Oklahoma before assisting the program to capture its fifth Patriot League title.
 
Though the challenges of adjusting to college and the level of competition, that freshman year saw the growth of their friendship on and off the field go to the next level.

"Jen is very social and an extrovert, Marina is very independent and an introvert," cited Waters. "At the end of the day there's a lot of respect there, and I think that's blossomed over the last four years. Those are two very special kids and over time they've figured out it's better when they're together than apart."
 
The success continued their sophomore season, as each played in all 57 games and earned their first All-Patriot League Team selections while guiding the program to win its second straight conference championship.
 
The 2020 season saw the long-time teammates once again guide the Terriers to a torrid start, as BU opened its season 8-0 for the first time, but the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of the season in March.
 
Amidst all the uncertainty and challenges of this senior season, the element of trust has served as the lynchpin in their relationship more than ever.

"This year especially with COVID and the difficult circumstances that we've been under," started Horita. "We've really been able to lean on each other, bounce ideas back and forth about the things that we've had to go through that we usually wouldn't have to."
 
Additionally, the pair has learned to respect their autonomy and understand that the strength of their friendship has resulted from the growth.
 
"I think over their four years they've gotten closer," asserted Waters. "When they came here, they independently wanted their own identity. They had each other, but they had their own separate groups. Over these past four years, it's evolved where the more you turn around, they more they're standing next to each other, the more they're laughing together and the more they're joking together."
 
Those four years have resulted in four of the best seasons in program history, highlighted by a program-best 36-2 mark and the Terriers' first three-peat as conference champions.
 
"It's crazy to see how it's come full circle almost," closed Horita. "From us just starting to play softball when we were eight, to being on the same team since, and now being on the same college team. We've been able to play together, win championships, be successful and to have this experience together is something I could have never imagined."