Terriers Record DH Split with Win over Akron, Loss to No. 9 Clemson

Friday, February 25

Clemson, SC

12:30 PM

Boston University

4-6

Akron

0-7

Boston University

Akron

A Terrier slides into home plate with catcher trying to apply the tag with out-stretched arm

Photo by: Dawson Powers

Terriers Record DH Split with Win over Akron, Loss to No. 9 Clemson

February 25, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Akron Box (W, 15-0 / 5 inn.)#9 Clemson Box (L, 8-0 / 5 inn.)

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Boston University softball team opened the Clemson Classic with a 15-0 victory over Akron before dropping an 8-0 decision to the host and ninth-ranked Tigers on Friday afternoon.

Following the DH split that saw both games end in the fifth inning, the Terriers move to 4-7. With the help of 10 hits and nine walks in the first game vs. the Zips (0-7), BU claimed its largest margin of victory in a shutout against a non-conference opponent since posting a 16-0 win against Boston College in 1994. BU had its chances early for an upset bid against Clemson but left two on base in three of the first four innings before the Tigers ended the matchup in the fifth with six runs off five hits, including a walk-off homer.

Sophomore Kayla Roncin tied a school record with four runs scored against Akron by batting 2-of-2 with two walks and a triple. In total, 10 Terriers recorded at least one RBI with junior Caitlin Coker, graduate student Jen Horita and graduate student Marina Sylvestri collecting two apiece. Junior Lizzy Avery (2-3) allowed just one hit in four innings of work and combined with senior Julia Handfield for five strikeouts in BU's first shutout of the season.

In the second matchup, junior Allison Boaz kept the Terriers within striking distance against All-American Valerie Cagle (5-2) by holding Clemson to just two runs through four innings with the help of two strikeouts. The Tigers though threatened throughout with seven hits and finally pulled away in the fifth against Avery and Handfield. Horita was joined by Roncin, sophomore Lauren Keleher and senior Aliyah Huerta-Leipner in collecting one hit apiece with sophomore Lauren Nett earning two walks.

GAME 1: BU - 15, Akron - 0 (5 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

BU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first by taking advantage of four straight walks and Sylvestri's RBI sac fly.
Following a scoreless second, BU pulled away in the third with six runs off four hits and two errors, including senior Nicole Amodio's RBI double and Horita's two-RBI single.
Coker's two-RBI double highlighted a four-run fourth.
Roncin started the fifth with a triple and scored on Boaz's RBI grounder before the Terriers added more runs for the 15-0 lead.
Akron's lone single came in the second against Avery, who recorded three strikeouts before Handfield added two more in the fifth.

GAME 2: #9 Clemson - 8, BU - 0 (5 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Horita and Roncin recorded back-to-back one-out infield singles to start the game, but Cagle ended the threat by earning a ground out and strikeout.
Nett drew a two-out walk and moved to third on Huerta-Leipner's single through the right side in the second, but the Terriers came up empty with a ground out.
The Tigers' 2021 All-ACC First Team honoree Marissa Guimbarda grabbed the lead for good with a solo homer against Boaz.
Clemson then took advantage of a defensive miscue to extend the lead to 2-0.
Trying to mount a rally, Keleher singled to left and stole third on Nett's walk, but Cagle again shut the door with a ground out.
The Tigers had a double and single to put runners at the corners with two outs as well before Boaz earned a strikeout to keep the deficit at 2-0.
In the fifth, Clemson retired the side in the top half and then earned a pair of extra base hits along with three singles against the Terriers' pen for the run-rule win.

UP NEXT

The Terriers will next face defending NEC champion Saint Francis at 10 a.m. in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The winner will face Clemson again at 6 p.m. with the loser facing Akron at 3:30 p.m.