No. 22/23 Softball Rallies Late to Defeat Michigan State in 3-2 Nine-Inning Thriller

Sunday, March 17

Columbia, SC

10 AM

Boston University

20-3

Michigan State

12-13

Michigan State

Boston University

Photo by: Juan Blas

No. 22/23 Softball Rallies Late to Defeat Michigan State in 3-2 Nine-Inning Thriller

March 17, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Nett Postgame

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Facing a two-run deficit with one out in the bottom of the seventh, the No. 22/23 nationally-ranked Boston University softball team rallied for a 3-2 nine-inning victory over Michigan State to conclude South Carolina's Garnet & Black Invitational Sunday morning.

With their second win over the Big 10 at the tournament, the Terriers improve to 20-3, while the Spartans drop to 12-13. The event marked the first time in 15 years that BU faced four consecutive Power Five opponents.

Graduate student Allison Boaz (8-1) scattered five hits over the final eight innings and helped her own cause with an RBI double in the seventh. Senior Lauren Nett tied the game with an RBI single and led off the ninth with a single that eventually led to her scoring on classmate Lauren Keleher's walk-off RBI sac fly.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After lining into a double play to end the top of the first, Michigan State drew two walks to start the second against sophomore Kasey Ricard.
Boaz got the next Spartan to pop up a sacrifice bunt attempt but then allowed a walk, RBI sac fly to center and then a two-out RBI single to left to face a 2-0 deficit.
Trying to add to the lead, Michigan State doubled to left with one out in the fourth, but Boaz bounced back to a ground out and line out to left.
The Terriers threatened Portland State transfer and former NFCA All-Region honoree Liv Grey in the fourth with a lead-off walk by Keleher and two out single from graduate student Lizzy Avery before striking out.
The Spartans applied pressure in the fifth with back-to-back singles and then a one-out hit-by-pitch, but Boaz kept the ball in the infield with a ground out to third and foul out to first to keep the deficit at 2-0.
Sophomore Brooke Deppiesse reached first on a throwing error with one out in the bottom of the seventh and then scored on Boaz's RBI double that was just inches away from being a home run.
Nett fouled off three straight pitches and then drove the next one up the middle to plate Boaz and send the game to extra innings.
After helping turn a double play to end the top of the eighth, graduate student Caitlin Coker led off with a double against new pitcher, Madison Taylor, who bounced back with a line out, fly out and ground out.
Boaz earned a quick 1-2-3 to send the game to the bottom of the ninth still tied and watched Nett single through the left side, take second on a wild pitch, reach third on graduate student Audrey Sellers' sac bunt and finall score on Keleher's RBI sac fly for the victory.,

UP NEXT

After being on the road for 23 games to start the season, the Terriers will open the home slate on Tuesday (March 19) with a doubleheader scheduled against Yale. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
BU will enter its home opener with a program-record 20 wins.