BOSTON – Highlighted by a pair of shutout pitching performances and bases-clearing hits, the Boston University softball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep over Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon.

With the two victories, the Terriers (29-13, 8-0 PL) now own the nation's second-longest win streak at 18 games, tying the program and Patriot League record they set last season. They are also on a 22-game home win streak, which ranks second as well. 

Coming off Wednesday's one-hit shutout against UMass, junior Lizzy Avery (13-8) collected four strikeouts against three walks to earn her second no-hitter of the season in an 8-0 run-rule win over the Crusaders (13-25, 3-8 PL). Classmate Allison Boaz then tallied six strikeouts while allowing just two hits in the 4-0 game-two victory. 

At the plate, graduate student Jen Horita went a combined 3-for-7 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while senior Nicole Amodio batted 2-for-4 with a team-high five RBIs. Junior Caitlin Coker earned a team-high four hits in the lead-off slot.

GAME 1: BU - 8, Holy Cross - 0 (5 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Holy Cross earned a two-out walk in the top of the third before junior Audrey Sellers caught the Crusader trying to steal second.
• After Sellers earned a one-out walk in the bottom half, Coker doubled to right to set up sophomore Lauren Keleher's RBI sac fly to center.
• BU loaded the bases via sophomore Kayla Roncin's walk and graduate student Marina Sylvestri's hit-by-pitch, leading to Horita's 3-RBI triple to right center against Patriot League Preseason Pitcher of the Year Kelly Nelson (9-13).
• Horita extended the lead to 5-0 on a wild pitch.
• In the top of the fifth, Avery earned a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to the circle.
• The Terriers put the game away in the bottom half after Horita hit a two-out RBI single to left and Amodio went up the middle for two RBIs.

GAME 2: BU - 4, Holy Cross - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Coker and Horita started the game with back-to-back singles, but Holy Cross earned three straight ground outs to keep the game scoreless.
• The Crusaders earned a one-out walk in the second before Boaz turned a 1-6-3 double play.
• Horita scored the first run in the third on a two-out infield error.
• After senior Emily Gant loaded the bases via walk, Amodio doubled to right center to extend the lead to 4-0.
• HC started the fifth with a single and had two on base following a two-out error, but Boaz earned the ground out keep the Crusaders off the scoreboard.
• In the seventh, Boaz got a foul out, ground out to fly out to left to seal the shutout.

GAME NOTES

• Avery became the first Terrier to earn two no-hitters in one season since Cassidi Hardy accomplished the feat in 2010. She's also the first Patriot League pitcher since Lehigh's Lisa Sweeney in 2007.
• Avery earned BU's first no-hitter against Holy Cross since Lauren Hynes ('16) shut down the Crusaders on the road in 2016.
• Horita's four RBIs were a personal best and topped her previous high of two set multiple times during her time at BU.
• Both Horita and Coker are now tied for second on the team at 14 multi-hit games.
• BU improved to 45-8 all-time in the series with the Crusaders, extending its win streak to 18 contests.

UP NEXT

• The Terriers will wrap up the weekend series on Sunday (April 17) at 11 a.m.