BOSTON – Highlighted by junior Lizzy Avery's 15 combined strikeouts and a stellar .444 batting average, the Boston University softball team opened the home schedule with a doubleheader sweep over Merrimack on Tuesday afternoon.

The Terriers (14-13) increased their run-rule victory total to five contests this season with a 10-2(6) game-one decision and 10-0(5) game-two win against the Warriors (6-8). Avery brought the fire in the circle, pitching the final two innings of the first contest for her first career save and then following up with a career-tying 10 strikeouts for her first career and the program's 26th-ever no-hitter.

Senior Emily Gant led the offense, batting a combined 4-for-7 with a pair of doubles. She was one of five Terriers to collect three RBIs and one of three alongside sophomore Kayla Roncin and graduate student Jen Horita to reach home plate three times each. In total, 11 Terriers scored at least one run, as BU posted a 20-6 advantage in hits along with an 11-3 lead in walks.

GAME 1: BU 10, Merrimack 2 (6 inn.)

• The Terriers jumped on the scoreboard quickly, as junior Caitlin Coker singled though the left side, took second on a wild pitch and eventually scored on sophomore Kayla Roncin's single through the right side.
• BU added two more in the second with senior Bella Gargicevich-Almeida doubling classmate Aliyah Huerta-Leipner home and later scoring from third, as Coker drew a rundown between first and second.
• Merrimack earned its first run in the top of the third following a lead-off single and one-out walk by taking advantage of BU's throwing error during a double-play attempt.
• BU was held scoreless in the bottom half but stormed back in the fourth with Horita's two-RBI single up the middle after the Terriers loaded the bases on walks.
• The Warriors threatened one last time in the top of the fifth with two singles and a walk against junior Allison Boaz (8-4) to prompt a pitching change.
• Avery started off with a strikeout and bounced back from a one-out RBI single to earn a ground out and strikeout to leave the bases loaded and maintain a 5-2 lead.
• Gargicevich-Almeida provided more breathing room with an RBI sac fly in the bottom half, as Avery followed up with three more strikeouts.
• The Terriers put the game away in the sixth without recording an out, as senior Nicole Amodio doubled home Horita and scored along with Roncin on Gant's two-RBI single to right.
• Keleher walked off with an RBI triple to left center for the run-rule victory.

GAME 2: BU 10, Merrimack 0 (5 inn.)

• Avery did not let up to begin the game, earning three straight looking strikeouts.
• Madie Fornwalt (3-3) followed up by retiring three Terriers on ground outs to short.
• BU grabbed the lead for good in the second, as Gant doubled to left center and scored on Amodio's RBI single to right.
• Sophomore Kate Pryor opened the third with a single and eventually took third on Coker's single through the right side before sliding home on Horita's bunt single.
• Roncin delivered a two-RBI single to right and later scored on Amodio's RBI single through the left side.
• Pryor again set the stage in the fourth by hitting a lead-off double to left center and eventually scoring on a double steal with Horita.
• Senior Aliyah Huerta-Leipner hit a bases-clearing three-run double down the right field line after Gant doubled home Horita for the 10-0 advantage.
• Avery secured BU's first no-hitter at home since 2014 with three swinging strikeouts.

UP NEXT

• BU has a quick turnaround and will host UMass Lowell in a doubleheader starting Wednesday (March 23) at 12 p.m.
• The Terriers have won the last five meetings and will host the River Hawks since earning a pair of one-run decisions in 2019.