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+.