LONG BEACH, Calif. – Continuing the Louisville Slugger Invitational with a doubleheader against a pair of 2021 NCAA regional finalists, the Boston University softball team fell to both Central Florida and Iowa State on Friday afternoon at the LBSU Softball Complex.
The Terriers (11-12) only faced a combined 12-10 deficit in hits but were undone by defensive miscues and inability to string along their hits, as their six-game win streak came to an end. Ranked as high as No. 24 nationally this season and still receiving votes, UCF (18-7) overcame an early two-run deficit with four runs in the second and added two insurance runs in the fifth for the 6-2 victory, while the Cyclones (13-7) struck early with three runs en route to a 6-0 win.
Sophomore and two-time reigning Patriot League Player of the Week
Kayla Roncin went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader with an RBI single and run scored on classmate
Lauren Keleher's RBI single. Graduate student
Jen Horita was the other Terrier to record a hit in both contests. Pitching the distance in the first game, junior
Lizzy Avery (5-7) collected seven strikeouts and then followed up with five more strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief for classmate
Allison Boaz (4-6).
GAME 1: UCF 6, Boston University 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Horita reached base on a fielding error and moved to second on junior Caitlin Coker's walk before scoring on Roncin's single up the middle.
- UCF managed to throw Coker out as she tried to reach third on the throw home, but BU managed to add a second run on Keleher's RBI single to center.
- The Knights loaded the bases by hitting senior Aliyah Huerta-Leipner, prompting them to bring in ace Gianna Mancha (7-2). who prevented further damage with the first of five strikeouts.
- Avery collected two strikeouts of her own in the bottom half to maintain the 2-0 lead entering the second.
- UCF broke the game open with four runs off three hits, a walk, wild pitch and throwing error.
- Trying to mount a rally, Coker hit a bunt single in the top of the fifth and was joined by senior Nicole Amodio on base after she was hit by a pitch, but Mancha earned another strikeout to end the threat.
- UCF then added two more runs with the help of a bases loaded walk and passed ball.
GAME 2: Iowa State 6, BU 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- ISU joined UCF in opening the game with a fielding error but turned a double play to keep BU from putting a runner in scoring position.
- The Cyclones started with a single and later added an RBI double against Boaz before loading the bases on a wild pitch that prompted a swinging strikeout.
- ISU drew a two-out RBI bases-loaded walk and caught the Terriers out of position to score a second run with a stolen base for the 3-0 advantage.
- BU faced a 4-0 deficit following a triple and RBI ground out in the second.
- The Cyclones kept the pressure on BU with a single and double against Boaz before hitting a two-RBI single against Avery, who didn't allow another hit the rest of the game.
- Roncin started the fourth with a single and stolen base, but Karli Charles (4-1) earned a pair of strikeouts and fly out to keep BU off the scoreboard.
- The Terriers threatened one more time in the fifth on singles from sophomore Lauren Nett and Horita before Charles earned another ground out to help secure the shutout.
UP NEXT
- BU will conclude the 25-game season-opening road trip with a doubleheader against Nebraska and Sacramento State on Saturday (March 12).
- First pitch is set for 12 p.m. ET with the Terriers facing the Huskers for the first time in program history.