LA JOLLA, Calif. – After dropping a 6-5 eight-inning decision to Utah State, the Boston University softball team rebounded with a 4-1 win at UC San Diego Saturday afternoon in the San Diego Classic.
With the doubleheader split, the Terriers move to 6-10 on the season. They were one out away from earning a sweep, but the Aggies (7-9) scored two runs on a fielding error and would finish with five unearned runs. BU had two more errors in the seventh against the Tritons (8-10) to bring the game-tying run to the plate, but junior
Allison Boaz (3-3) earned a pair of ground outs to secure the win.
Sophomore
Kayla Roncin led the offense batting an identical 2-of-4 in both contests while combining for three RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore
Lauren Keleher went a combined 2-of-4 in the DH with three walks, and senior
Nicole Amodio earned a key two-RBI single against UCSD.
GAME 1: Utah State 6, BU 5 (8 innings)
EIGHTH INNING
- Using international tiebreaker rules, the Aggies used a successful sac bunt and sac fly to center to grab a 6-5 lead.
- The Terriers also had a successful sac bunt but then hit in a 5-3-2 double play, as BU tried to tie the game during the throw to first.
THE SET UP
- BU struck first in the bottom of the second by loading the bases without a hit and scoring a run on Boaz's sac fly to right that plated Keleher, who led off with a walk.
- Keleher added a second walk in the third to extend the lead to 2-0 following singles from graduate student Jen Horita, Roncin and Amodio.
- Lexi Orozco helped the Aggies with her second double in the fourth on two outs and scored following a passed ball and throwing error.
- The Aggies tied the game in the sixth, as Boaz ran into trouble with three walks and a hit-by-pitch.
- Junior Lizzy Avery entered the circle and kept the bases loaded with a strikeout.
- BU retook the lead in the sixth, as Keleher led off with a double and freshman pinch runner Tyesha Williams scored following a pair of USU errors.
- Senior Emily Gant recorded a two-out pinch-hit single up the middle to extend the lead to 4-2.
- The Aggies earned a one-out double and single in the top of the seventh before scoring two on a BU error.
- They added the fifth run on a two-out RBI single to right.
- Roncin sent the game to extras with her first homer of the season on a one-out solo shot to left.
GAME 2: BU 4, UC San Diego 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tritons had runners on the corners with one out against Gant in the first but lined into a double play, as senior Aliyah Huerta-Leipner made a catch in center and threw a bullet to sophomore Lauren Nett at home in time for the tag.
- Boaz started the second in the circle and allowed a lead-off single but bounced back with a strikeout and pair of infield ground outs.
- BU loaded the bases in the third with one out on Nett's walk, junior Caitlin Coker's single and Horita's grounder before Roncin and Amodio delivered back-to-back two-RBI singles.
- The Tritons got on the scoreboard with a lead-off double and two-out single in the fourth.
- Senior Bella Gargicevich-Almeida hit a double in the top of the sixth but ended up stranded at third.
- Roncin hit a single in the seventh but was also stranded in scoring position, as the Tritons kept the deficit at 4-1.
- BU committed two errors in the bottom half, but Boaz earned a 4-3 ground out and then collected a grounder herself to throw to first to seal the win.
UP NEXT
- BU will wrap up the San Diego Classic with two true road games on Sunday (March 6).
- The Terriers will first visit the University of San Diego at 1 p.m. ET and then make the short trek to San Diego state for a 4:30 p.m. ET meeting.