Softball Off to Best Start in Program History with Sweep over Queens and Charlotte

Saturday, February 17

Charlotte, NC

11 AM

Boston University

8-0

Queens

3-4

Queens

Boston University

Kasey Ricard high fives a teammate after earning a final out in an inning

Photo by: Robert Branning

Softball Off to Best Start in Program History with Sweep over Queens and Charlotte

February 17, 2024 | Softball

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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Boosted by a stellar pitching effort from sophomore Kasey Ricard, the Boston University softball team earned a second doubleheader sweep at the Charlotte Invitational with victories over Queens and the host 49ers Saturday afternoon.

Ricard (5-0) totaled 250 pitches over two complete-game efforts to blank the Royals (3-4), 7-0, and hold off the 49ers (4-4), 2-1, as the Terriers opened a season at 9-0 for the first time in program history.

Highlighted by a two-RBI single against Charlotte, an earlier winner against then-No. 4 Florida State, graduate student Lizzy Avery went a combined 5-for-7 in the doubleheader sweep to lead the offense. In the first contest, senior Lauren Keleher, senior Kayla Roncin and graduate student Caitlin Coker tallied two hits apiece with Roncin plating four runs.

GAME 1: BU - 7, Queens - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

BU loaded the bases in the first on an error, Avery's single and sophomore Brooke Deppiesse's walk before Autumn Courtney (2-2) ended the threat with an infield pop up.
The Royals started the third with a lead-off double, but Ricard earned three strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.
BU got on the scoreboard in the bottom half with Coker singling through the right side, advancing to third on Avery's single and scoring on Deppiesse's RBI sac bunt.
The Terriers added another run during the fourth when Roncin followed Keleher's single with an RBI double down the right field line.
BU helped put the game away in the fifth with five runs off five hits and a pair of errors.
Roncin delivered a two-out, bases-clearing double and then scored on Coker's RBI double down the left field line.
Avery followed up with an RBI single to center for the 7-0 advantage.
Ricard ended the contest retiring the final 15 Royals to claim the one-hit shutout.

GAME 2: BU - 2, Charlotte - 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the top of the first, Keleher walked to first, took second on a fielding error and tried to score on Coker's single through the right side, but the 49ers managed to get the ball home in time to apply the tag.
Avery followed with a two-RBI single on the first pitch to grab a 2-0 lead.
Charlotte earned a pair of walks in the first and third, but both times, Ricard earned a ground out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, the 49ers earned a one-out walk and single before flying out to center in consecutive at-bats.
Trying to extend the lead, Coker and Avery hit back-to-back two-out singles in the top of the fifth before the 49ers earned a foul out to left.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Charlotte earned a single and three straight walks to avoid a second shutout to Ricard, who sealed the victory with a fly out to center.

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