Softball Remains Down South for Three-Day Cougar Classic

Friday, February 17

Charleston, SC

10 AM

Boston University

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Apeiro Sports Photo

Softball Remains Down South for Three-Day Cougar Classic

February 16, 2023 | Softball

Cougar Classic Central Game Notes

COUGAR CLASSIC (GAMES 5-9) INFORMATION
Teams: BU, Tennessee Tech, Charleston (2x), Canisius (2x)
Dates: Friday, Feb. 17 - Sunday, Feb. 19
Venue: Charleston, S.C. | Patriots Point Athletics Complex
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierSoftball

BOSTON – Coming off a successful trip to the Sunshine State, the Boston University softball team will remain down south and next compete at Charleston's three-day Cougar Classic in South Carolina.

The Terriers will first battle Tennessee Tech on Friday (Feb. 17) at 10 a.m. and then the host school at 3 p.m. On Saturday (Feb. 18), BU will meet defending MAAC champion Canisius at 10 a.m. and the Cougars a second time at 3 p.m. The competition will end on Sunday (Feb. 19) at 9 a.m. in a rematch with the Golden Griffins.

Last weekend, BU went 3-1 with identical 8-0(6) run-rule victories over South Florida and Saint Joseph's while also claiming a 2-1 win against Illinois State. No. 4 Florida halted the Terriers' season-opening three-game win streak, 11-2, in five innings.

TERRIER TIDBITS

Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year and junior Kayla Roncin batted a team-high .500 at South Florida while combining with graduate student Emily Gant (.462) for seven RBIs and seven runs scored.
Junior Lauren Keleher (.364) and senior Caitlin Coker (.250) both had three RBIs apiece.
Four freshmen made their debuts with freshman Brooke Deppiesse delivering a go-ahead solo homer against ISU while adding a double during the event. Kasey Ricard (1-0) appeared in all four games and finished with 12 combined strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work while holding batters to .226.
2022 PL Pitcher of the Year Allison Boaz (1-1) posted nine strikeouts in 8.2 innings and held batters to .212. Fellow senior Lizzy Avery (1-0) pitched five scoreless innings against Saint Joseph's and allowed just one hit.
Overall, BU batted .317 with 7-3 advantage in extra-base hits and held opponents to .190 overall.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Tennessee Tech, 0-2 (Feb. 17, 10 a.m.)

The Golden Eagles are 0-2 so far with 1-0(8) loss to Western Carolina and 16-5(5) defeat to Kennesaw State after going 32-22 last spring with a 13-14 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Haeli Bryson led TTU with two hits and three RBIs last weekend in a tournament that was marred by a rain. She batted .392 last season with nine homers and 41 RBIs, as the Golden Eagles batted .276 with 57-39 advantage in homers.
Former Tennessee transfer Kaylan Cole limited Western Carolina to one unearned run and seven hits in seven innings of work with two strikeouts after just pitching 1/3 of an inning last season.
The Golden Eagles lead the all-time series, 3-1, winning the last meeting in 2002 (1-0). BU won the first-ever meeting back in 1992, 3-2.

Charleston, 0-1 (Feb. 17, 3 p.m. & Feb. 18, 3 p.m.)

The Cougars had their first tournament canceled by rain and opened their season with an 8-0(6) loss at South Carolina after going 15-37 last season with a 7-10 record in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Mia Dittoe is the top returning batter at .254 with four homers and 20 RBIs. Overall, the Cougars batted .217 last season with a .297 on-base percentage.
Payton Lemire is the top returning pitcher after she posted a 5-11 record last spring with 59 strikeouts in 108.2 innings and opponents batting .230.
Charleston won the lone meeting back in 2019, 1-0.

Canisius, 0-0 (Feb. 18, 10 a.m. & Feb. 19, 9 a.m.)

The Golden Griffins will see their first action of the year after posting a 32-18 record last season with a 16-4 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Canisius is led by reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year Megan Giese, who posted a 14-10 record and 1.98 ERA while holding opposing batters to .193 average with 185 strikeouts in 159.0 innings.
MAAC Rookie of the Year Saige Alfaro batted .369 last year with 18 RBIs, while Christie McGee-Ross batted .359 alongside 21 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Gianna Fazzolari boasted eight homers and 38 RBIs while batting .306.
BU won the lone meeting, 2-1, back in 1993 en route to the ECAC postseason title.

UP NEXT

BU will end the Southern tour at Charlotte's Queen City Classic on Feb. 24-26.
The Terriers will face the host 49ers, Georgia Tech, Kent State and also Penn State two times.