Boston University (16-13, 0-0 PL) at Lafayette (5-15, 0-0 PL)
Dates & Time: Saturday DH and Sunday | 12 p.m.
Venue: Lafayette Softball Field | Easton, Pa.
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierSoftball

BOSTON – Riding a five-game win streak, the three-time defending Patriot League champion Boston University will open its conference regular season title defense with a three-game series over the weekend at Lafayette. The Terriers and Leopards will start both Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's rubber match at 12 p.m.

BU enters the PL opening series at No. 45 in the NCAA RPI rankings after posting a 16-13 record competing in the 11th toughest non-conference strength of schedule. The Terriers most recently swept a pair of midweek doubleheaders against in-state foes Merrimack and UMass Lowell. The Leopards had their Wednesday DH with Fairleigh Dickinson postponed by weather and are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak that includes one-run losses to UMBC and Quinnipiac.

TERRIER TIDBITS

• Senior Emily Gant batted a team-high .615 during the Terriers' four-game homestand to increase her average to .417.
• Sophomore Kayla Roncin scored six of her team-leading 26 runs and currently leads BU at .424 with 19 RBIs.
• Senior Nicole Amodio (.307) and sophomore Lauren Keleher (.323) both hit over .500 during the homestand. Amodio delivered eight RBIs to increase her season total to 29.
• Junior Caitlin Coker (.277) leads BU with seven doubles alongside 18 runs scored, while graduate student Jen Horita (.276) owns 21 runs scored.
• Juniors Allison Boaz (9-4, 1.99 ERA) and Lizzy Avery (7-8, 3.03 ERA) have combined for 27 starts. Avery has tallied 91 strikeouts in 90.0 innings while holding opponents to .230.
• Overall, BU is batting .278 and is holding opponents to .262 with opponents owning a 54-51 edge in extra-base hits.

SCOUTING LAFAYETTE

• The Leopards own five wins after going 1-21 last season. They claimed earlier victories against Maryland-Eastern Shore (2x), Saint Peter's, George Mason and Merrimack.
• Natasha Miner leads Lafayette at .298 batting with 16 runs scored and 12 walks for a .452 on-base percentage, while Grace Harvey (.279) owns a team-high 14 RBIs.
• In the circle, Kinzi Van Wyk (4-4, 2.61 ERA) leads the Leopards with 25 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched. Morrigan Gardiner (0-4, 5.25 ERA) and Jacqueline Cal (1-5, 5.39 ERA) have combined for 13 of the starts.
• Overall, Lafayette is batting .213 and holding teams to .321 with opponents owning a 49-30 advantage in extra-base hits and 35-20 lead in stolen bases.

SERIES HISTORY

• BU is 22-0 all-time in the series dating back to 2014 and is 9-0 on the road.
• The Terriers run-ruled Lafayette in all four games last season at home.
• BU pulled out a 1-0 11-inning road win in 2017. 

UP NEXT

• BU will return to non-conference play at UConn on Wednesday (March 30) at 4 p.m.
• The Terriers are 11-8 all-time after winning two meetings in South Carolina in 2019, 9-3 and 7-3.