WORCESTER, Mass. – Highlighted by seven extra-base hits and freshman Kasey Ricard's 19 combined strikeouts, the Boston University softball team opened Patriot League play with a doubleheader sweep at Holy Cross Sunday afternoon.

The Terriers (25-7, 2-0 PL) first run-ruled the Crusaders (7-21, 0-5 PL), 11-1, in the first contest and followed up with a 6-0 game two shutout victory. The pair of wins gives Boston University a 9-8 edge in the Turnpike Trophy all-sports competition against Holy Cross with at least one more softball game and one men's and women's tennis match remaining.

Senior Allison Boaz (12-4) pitched the first 3.2 innings with three strikeouts before Ricard (9-2) sealed the win with two strikeouts. Ricard remained in the circle for the second contest and retired 21 Crusaders with the help of 17 strikeouts, the most by a Terrier in a PL game, against just one hit and one walk allowed.

At the plate, graduate student Emily Gant went 4-for-6 with three runs and an RBI. Junior Kayla Roncin was second on the team with three hits alongside three runs and four RBIs. Freshman Brooke Deppiesse also totaled four RBIs, while both senior Caitlin Coker and junior Lauren Keleher reached home plate three times apiece. Junior Kate Pryor added two triples.

GAME 1: BU - 11, Holy Cross - 1 (5 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Competing in blistery wind conditions, Keleher led off with a walk and then scored on Roncin's single, as the Crusaders committed two fielding errors to give BU a 2-0 advantage.
• After Coker walked and stole second, she scored on Deppiesse's RBI single to left to extend the lead to 3-0.
• HC tried to rally early with back-to-back one-out singles, but Boaz turned an impressive 1-5-3 double play to end the threat.
• In the third, Gant doubled to left on scored on junior Lauren Nett's RBI single to right.
• BU added three more runs by loading the bases on senior Audrey Seller's single, Coker's walk and Gant's walk to set up Deppiesse's bases clearing triple to right center.
• The Crusaders earned a walk and single before avoiding the shutout on a two-out RBI single. 
• After HC loaded the bases with another single against Boaz, Ricard earned a strikeout to maintain the 7-1 advantage.
• In the fifth, after Nett earned a walk, both Pryor (triple) and Keleher (double) recorded extra-base hits.
• Roncin and Coker added RBI singles for the 10-run victory.

GAME 2: BU - 6, Holy Cross - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ricard was lights out, starting off the game with two strikeouts in the first inning.
• She later struck out the side in the second, third and sixth innings, allowing just one two-out single in the fourth and a lead-off walk in the fifth.
• Graduate student Nicole Amodio gave BU the lead for good by earning a lead-off walk in the third, advancing to second on Sellers' sac bunt, taking third on Keleher's single to left and scoring Roncin's RBI sac fly.
• Pryor then provided the needed spark to pull away by starting the fifth with a triple to right center.
• After Keleher moved to second with two outs on a hit-by-pitch and stolen base, Roncin overcame an 0-2 count by singling to center for a 3-0 advantage.
• Coker then doubled to left and scored on Gant's single up the middle to extend the lead to 5-0.
• The Crusaders' lone fielding error allowed Gant to add one more run.
• Ricard ended the game with two more strikeouts. 

UP NEXT

• BU will wrap up the series at HC on Monday with first pitch set for 4 p.m.