Softball Set to Open Season at Stetson's Frank Griffin Classic

Friday, February 9

DeLand, FL

9:30 AM

Boston University

Binghamton

Caitlin Coker, Livia Christopher and Lizzy Avery greet one another coming off the diamond with high fives.

Photo by: Robert Branning

Softball Set to Open Season at Stetson's Frank Griffin Classic

February 8, 2024 | Softball

Frank Griffin Classic Live Stats (all games)ESPN+ (Feb. 10 vs. Stetson)ESPN+ (Feb. 11 vs. Stetson)

FRANK GRIFFIN CLASSIC (GAMES 1-5) INFORMATION
Teams: BU, Binghamton, SIUE, Stetson
Dates: Friday, Feb. 9 - Sunday, Feb. 11
Venue: DeLand, Fla. | Patricia Wilson Field
Twitter: @BUGameDay | @TerrierSoftball

BOSTON – Receiving votes in the NFCA Top 25 preseason poll, the defending Patriot League champion Boston University softball team will open its 37th season at Stetson's three-day Frank Griffin Classic.

The Terriers will start off against former America East rival Binghamton on Friday (Feb. 9) with a 9:30 a.m. start time followed by a 12 p.m. first pitch against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). BU will then face SIUE again Saturday (Feb. 10) at 12 p.m. and the host Hatters at 5:30 p.m. Finally, a rematch against Stetson will take place Sunday (Feb. 11) at 12:30 p.m. with both contests streaming on ESPN+.

TERRIER TIDBITS

Selected as the PL preseason favorites, BU went 52-10 last spring for the most wins by a Northeast school in 21 years. The Terriers five-peated as PL regular season champs and won their sixth PL tournament title since joining the conference in the summer of 2013.
Ninth-year head coach Ashley Waters (2016-pres.) has led BU to five NCAA appearances, including last May in which the Terriers eliminated MEAC champion NC Central via run-rule shutout. She's currently tied with Shawn Rychick ('05-'12) for the most wins in program history at 271.
The Terriers return seven of their nine regular starters and the entire pitching staff that boasted non-conference wins over then-No. 12 Baylor, South Florida, Penn State (2x), Big East regular season champion UConn and Boston College.
Named BU's first All-American since 2011, senior and two-time PL Player of the year Kayla Roncin batted .430 with 92 hits (third most nationally) alongside 55 RBIs, 56 runs scored, 13 doubles, nine homers and four triples.
Senior Lauren Keleher batted .395 with 77 hits, including 17 doubles and seven triples, while graduate student Caitlin Coker hit .389 with 75 hits, 25 stolen bases, 11 doubles and 12 triples. Coker had just one error at third base to earn PL Defensive Player of the Years.
Sophomore Brooke Deppiesse (.324) delivered 57 hits and 37 RBIs. Junior Tyesha Williams (.308, 19 runs) is the other returning Terrier to bat over .300.
Graduate student Audrey Sellers (.260, 29 runs) caught every pitch.
BU has the only pitching staff in the country with three active pitchers to have earned a solo collegiate no-hitter. The trio combined for 24 shutouts last season.
Two-time PL Pitcher of the Year and graduate student Allison Boaz (25-5, 1.41 ERA) tallied 163 strikeouts in 183.1 innings of work with nine shutout with opponents hitting just .208.
Reigning PL Rookie of the Year Kasey Ricard (20-3, 4 SVs, 1.89 ERA) earned 192 strikeouts in 148.0 innings with opponents hitting .180, while graduate student Lizzy Avery (7-2, 1 SV, 2.35 ERA) collected 49 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.
Overall, BU batted .327 last year while holding opponents to .203 with a 77-30 advantage in doubles and NCAA-leading 35 triples against just four allowed.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

vs. Binghamton, 0-0 (Friday, 9:30 a.m.)

Picked second in the America East preseason poll, the Bearcats return six All-Conference selections from last year's squad that went 29-18 (13-7).
An NFCA All-Region First Team honoree, Lindsey Walter batted .414 with 14 stolen bases and 31 runs scored, while collecting 16 strikeouts in 45.0 innings of work en route to a 6-4 record plus 2.49 ERA.
Brianna Santos hit .361 alongside three homers and 39 RBIs for All-Conference First Team recognition, and second team member Laney Harbaugh hit .331.
Reigning America East Rookie of the Year Brianna Roberts (11-3, 2.68) tallied 106 strikeouts in 104.1 innings while holding batters to .254. Sophia Pappas (6-7, 2.87 ERA) claimed 110 strikeouts in 97.2 innings with opponents hitting .218.
Overall, Binghamton hit .297 and held opponents to .255 with a 68-53 advantage in doubles and 47-45 edge in stolen bases.
BU is 34-7 all-time against the Bearcats with two wins under Coach Waters, including 10-2 (5) decision in 2018 at Hofstra and 11-1 victory at Maryland in 2016.

vs. SIUE, 0-0 (Friday, 12 p.m. // Saturday, 12 p.m.)

The Ohio Valley Conference championship runner-up Cougars went 30-26 last season and were picked to finish fifth in the OVC preseason poll.
Paige Rocha is the top returning hitter at .416 with 74 hits, 14 doubles, six homers and 30 RBIs.
Lexi King (.393 avg) added 70 hits, three homers and RBIs while combining with Rocha for 87 runs scored.
Sydney Baalman (17-9, 2.17 ERA) collected 101 strikeouts in 154.2 innings while holding opponents to .226 batting average. Kelsey Ray (6-11, 3.01 ERA) totaled 103 strikeouts in 132.2 innings.
Overall, SIUE batted .282 and held opponents to .249 with a 54-42 advantage in stolen bases.
BU won the lone meeting in 2011, 4-0, at a tournament hosted by Louisville.

at Stetson, 0-0 (Saturday, 5:30 p.m. // Sunday, 12:30 p.m.)

The Hatters went 28-28 last season with a 2-1 upset at then-No. 16 Georgia, 4-3 win at then-No. 23 UCF and 4-3 victory at South Carolina.
Kami Eppley is the top returning hitter at .320 with two homers and 12 RBIs.
Evette Morgan (.239) collected six homers and team-high 24 RBIs, while Marissa Baxter (.215) earned five homers alongside 20 RBIs.
Lauren Hobbs (15-10, 2.18 ERA) earned 108 strikeouts in 173.1 innings while holding opponents to .235 batting average, and Hannah Marien (9-13, 2.24 ERA) totaled 105 strikeouts in 147.0 innings with opponents hitting .209.
Stetson finished the year hitting .235 and held opponents to .239 with an 82-51 advantage in stolen bases and opponents posting 53-26 lead in doubles.
BU is 2-1 all-time after winning both games in 2020 at the Frank Griffin Classic, 10-0 (5) and 2-0. The Hatters earned a 10-2 victory back in 2006.

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