Softball Rallies Late Past Queens, Blanks Weekend Host Charlotte to Remain Unbeaten

Friday, February 16

Charlotte, NC

11 AM

Boston University

6-0

Queens

3-3

Queens

Boston University

BU softball team celebrates after a play in the dugout with high fiving

Photo by: Robert Branning

Softball Rallies Late Past Queens, Blanks Weekend Host Charlotte to Remain Unbeaten

February 16, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Queens Box (W, 7-6)Charlotte Box (W, 5-0)Coach Waters Postgame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After overcoming a late five-run deficit against Queens, the Boston University softball team blanked 2023 NCAA Regional finalist Charlotte, 5-0, on Friday afternoon at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium.

Graduate student Lizzy Avery (2-0) first delivered a two-out, two-RBI single for the 7-6 walk-off victory over the Royals (3-3), and then sophomore Kasey Ricard (3-0) tallied 12 strikeouts against the 49ers (3-3) for her third shutout of the season. With the doubleheader sweep on day one at the Charlotte Invitational, BU opens a season 7-0 for the second time in program history.

GAME 1: BU - 7, Queens - 6

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Royals quickly jumped on the scoreboard against graduate student Allison Boaz with three straight one-out singles before adding an RBI sac fly to right before Boaz stranded two on base with a swinging strikeout.
Queens added a second run with a third-inning lead-off homer and then earned a one-out walk against Avery before grounding into a double play.
Sophomore Aimee Metz and senior Lauren Keleher both earned walks in the bottom half to help BU cut the deficit in half, as the Royals' Autumn Courtney threw a pair of wild pitches to plate a run.
Previously shutting out DePaul and North Dakota State, Courtney had a no-hitter going through 3.2 innings before senior Kate Pryor and Avery hit back-to-back singles, but Courtney got out of the jam with a ground out.
Queens scored two runs in the fifth with a two-out, two-RBI double and added two more in the sixth with an RBI sac fly plus RBI sac bunt.
The Terriers began their successful rally in the bottom half with two outs, as Pryor singled to left and scored on Avery's RBI double to right center.
Freshman Kylie Doherty then delivered a two-run blast to left to pull within two, 6-4.
After Avery earned three outs in the top of the seventh, graduate student Audrey Sellers reached base on a fielding error that led to Keleher singling to center and senior Kayla Roncin plating a run on an RBI grounder.
The Royals then had a fielding error, hit-by-pitch and swinging strikeout to set up Avery's two-out, two-RBI single up the middle for the thrilling walk-off victory.

GAME 2: BU - 5, Charlotte - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Keleher led off with a walk, sophomore Brooke Deppiesse singled up the middle with two outs and helped graduate student Caitlin Coker score from third by drawing a run down in-between first and second.
The Terriers scored three more runs off three hits and two Charlotte errors in the top of the second to extend the lead to 4-0.
Pryor started off with a single and then took second on Avery's sac bunt before eventually scoring on Sellers' RBI single through the right side.
BU added the third run when Sellers stole second and drew an errant throw to help Doherty reach home.
Keleher then delivered a two-out RBI single to right.
Held to one hit through the first five innings, the 49ers started applying pressure on Ricard in the sixth with a one-out walk and single, but Ricard earned a fly out and foul out to maintain the 4-0 lead.
Keleher deliverd a critical insurance run with a one-out solo shot to right in the top of the seventh, as the 49ers loaded the bases to start the bottom half with three straight singles.
Ricard bounced back in the pressure-packed situation with a swinging strikeout and back-to-back looking strikeouts on full-count pitches to seal the shutout.

UP NEXT

BU will face Queens (11 a.m.) and Charlotte (2 p.m.) again on Saturday (Feb. 17) at the exact same times as Friday.
The 49ers' game will be streamed on ESPN+.