BOSTON – Helped by a strong pitching performance from senior Allison Boaz and junior Kayla Roncin's fourth-inning solo home run, the Boston University softball team earned a 1-0 home win over defending Big East regular season champion UConn on Wednesday afternoon.

With their 14th shutout, the Terriers improve to 23-7, while the Huskies drop to 17-10. Boaz (11-4) scattered four hits over six innings with the help of four strikeouts, and freshman Kasey Ricard added two strikeouts in the seventh for her second career save.

UConn's Hope Jenkins (7-2) limited BU to just three hits by tallying seven strikeouts but was undone by Roncin's fifth homer of the year on a 2-0 pitch for the program's second shutout loss of the year. The Huskies' lineup battled the Terriers throughout, earning three walks while forcing 124 total pitches, but BU's defense was up to the task with error-free play and a pair of highlight moments.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After earning a two-out walk in both of the first two innings, UConn led off the second with a single and added another two-out walk, but Boaz was able to end the threat with a line out to left.
• BU only had one runner reach base via walk through the first three innings until Roncin launched the ball off the video board in left center.
• The Huskies started the fifth with a single and advanced the runner to second on a sac bunt, but senior Caitlin Coker caught a hard liner at third and managed to throw to freshman Brooke Deppiesse in time at second for the double play.
• UConn earned a one-out single and sent a hard-hit ball to right center that forced an impressive diving save from junior Lauren Nett.
• BU tried to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back two-out singles from Roncin and Coker before grounding out.
• In the seventh, Ricard sealed the victory with a pair of strikeouts, including one on the final at-bat after the Huskies recorded two singles.

GAME NOTES

• Roncin owns five homers this season through 30 contests after totaling four all of last year in 57 games. 
• Now batting a personal-best .465, Roncin leads the team in extra base hits at 13 total.
• With 38 wins, Boaz just needs to more to move into a tie for ninth all-time in the program record book.
• The BU offense's seven strikeouts tied for the second most this season.
• The Terriers have won six straight against UConn after hosting the Huskies for the first time since 2014 and now lead the series, 13-8.

UP NEXT

• BU has won the last four PL regular season titles and will begin its defense on Saturday (April 1) against Holy Cross with the doubleheader set for 12 p.m.