Caitlin Coker lets out a yell while trotting down the third base line toward home plate following her three-run homer at Harvard.
9
Winner Boston University BOSTONU 36-4
5
Harvard HARV 18-14
Winner
Boston University BOSTONU
36-4
9
Final
5
Harvard HARV
18-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Boston University BOSTONU 0 2 2 0 1 0 4 9 11 1
Harvard HARV 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 8 0

W: Avery, Lizzy (6-0) L: Riley Flynn (5-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

No. 23 Softball Pulls Away Late in 9-5 Victory at Harvard

ALLSTON, Mass. – Helped by three critical extra-base hits and graduate student Lizzy Avery's strong relief performance in the circle, the No. 23 nationally-ranked Boston University softball team pulled away late in a 9-5 marathon victory at Harvard Tuesday afternoon.

With their ninth straight victory, the Terriers improve to 36-4, while the Crimson drop to 18-14. In a contest featuring a combined seven pitchers, both squads struggled against a tight strike zone, recording six walks apiece, but Avery (6-0) was able to keep Harvard off the scoreboard for the final 4.2 innings with the help of six strikeouts. 

Junior Tyesha Williams earned the game-changing two-out bases empty walk in the top of the seventh that ignited the four-run explosion that included Caitlin Coker delivering the decisive blow off a three-run homer to finish the game 3-for-5. Senior Kate Pryor went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, RBI sac fly and a pair of runs scored, while classmate Lauren Keleher hit 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore Brooke Deppiesse scored two runs following a triple and walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • BU jumped on the scoreboard first in the top of the second with two runs off one hit, two walks and two hit-by-pitches.
  • Graduate student Audrey Sellers earned an RBI off a hit-by-pitch, and Keleher followed up by laying off four outside pitches for the RBI walk.
  • The Crimson loaded the bases in the bottom half on a single, walk and failed fielder's choice attempt, but starting sophomore pitcher Kasey Ricard was able to turn a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.
  • With two outs in the top of the third, Pryor drove an RBI double down the left field line and scored on graduate student Allison Boaz's RBI single through the right side.
  • The Crimson rallied back during the bottom of the third by first hitting back-to-back singles and then loading the bases with a walk and zero outs.
  • Boaz replaced Ricard in the circle but ran into trouble with a pair of walks, a wild pitch and lastly an RBI single in 0.1 innings of work, as the lead was cut to 4-3.
  • Harvard took the lead against Avery on a walk and RBI single before striking out and grounding out.
  • After BU stranded a runner in scoring position in the fourth, Deppiesse tripled down the right field line in the fifth before tying the game on Pryor's one-out RBI sac fly to center.
  • The Terriers stranded a pair of runners on base in both the fifth and sixth but never trailed again.
  • In the seventh, Williams earned a two-out walk, swiped second and scored on Keleher's RBI single through the right side for the 6-5 advantage.
  • Senior Kayla Roncin added a single through the left side, and Coker blasted a 2-2 pitch toward center to pull ahead, 9-5. 
  • Avery started and ended the bottom half with a strikeout for the victory.
UP NEXT
  • BU will make the short trek return home to host Stonehill on Thursday (April 18) at 3:30 p.m.
  • The teams will meet for the first time in program history.
  • The Terriers currently own the nation's second longest active home win streak at 24 games.
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