CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Boston University softball team continued its offensive onslaught in South Carolina with a combined 18 runs off 22 hits to defeat both defending MAAC champion Canisius and Cougar Classic host Charleston Saturday afternoon.
Facing an early 2-0 deficit, the Terriers (7-1) scored six unanswered runs and added three more in the sixth for a 9-3 win over the Golden Griffins (2-1). BU scored two quick runs in the second game of the doubleheader and cruised to a 9-0(5) victory over the Cougars (0-4).
Junior
Lauren Keleher led the offense by batting a combined 6-of-8 with three RBIs. Freshman
Brooke Deppiesse collected three RBIs and three runs scored, while both graduate student
Nicole Amodio and sophomore
Tyesha Williams reached home plate four times apiece. In the circle, senior
Allison Boaz (3-1) used seven strikeouts to help hold Charleston to just one hit after freshman
Kasey Ricard (3-0) tallied six strikeouts with just one allowed run in 5.1 innings of relief against Canisius.
GAME 1: BU - 9, Canisius - 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After allowing two walks in a scoreless first inning, senior Lizzy Avery ran into trouble again with two more walks in the second.
- Ricard entered the game and earned a strikeout before Canisius pounced on a two-out pitch for a two-RBI triple and 2-0 advantage.
- The Terriers needed very little time to respond, as Amodio led the bottom of the second with a solo homer to right on the first pitch from reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Year Megan Giese.
- Deppiesse then singled through the left side, stole second and eventually scored on Sellers' RBI single up the middle.
- The Terriers took the lead for good when graduate student Emily Gant scored on Deppiesse's sac bunt and Amodio reached home on junior Lauren Nett's RBI single.
- Amodio added another run in the fourth on a bases-loaded RBI walk for the 5-2 advantage.
- Keeping the pressure on Canisius, Williams singled to left with one out in the fifth and scored on Sellers' RBI double to right center.
- The Golden Griffins tried to mount a rally in the sixth with two outs, earning a walk, RBI double and single before Ricard prevented further damage with a ground out.
- BU took advantage of two errors and a wild pitch to plate three more runs with both Amodio and Gant scoring on Deppiesse's two-RBI single.
GAME 2: BU - 9, Charleston - 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Keleher set the tone for a second win over the Cougars by hitting a lead-off single and eventually scoring on a wild pitch
- Gant hit an RBI single through the right side to plate senior Caitlin Coker with just one out.
- The Cougars earned a walk and two-out single in the bottom half before Boaz got out of the jam with a fly out to center.
- Charleston would only get one more runner on base the rest of the game via hit-by-pitch.
- BU added two more runs off three hits in the second to double the lead, as Williams scored on Keleher's bunt single and Sellers reached home on Coker's RBI grounder.
- The Terriers added four runs off three hits and an error in the top of the third, highlighted by Keleher plating two on a single to center.
- Coker added a run-rule insurance score with an RBI sac fly in the fifth, as Williams scored following a walk and back-to-back singles from Keleher and junior Kayla Roncin.
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
- Keleher collected a career-high four hits against Charleston after previously earning three four times.
- Amodio moved up to No. 6 all-time at BU with 118 RBIs and tied-for-eighth at 18 homers.
- The Terriers have posted five run-rule victories through eight contests.
- BU now leads Charleston, 2-1, all-time and the Golden Griffins, 2-0, after winning the first meeting between the two programs since 1993.
- The two wins came on head coach Ashley Waters' birthday.
UP NEXT
- The Terriers will end their trip with a rematch against Canisius on Sunday (Feb. 19) at 9 a.m.
- BU will be seeking its third 8-1 start in four seasons.
