Softball Blanks Cal State Bakersfield, Falls to UCF in Opening Day Split

Thursday, February 5

Orlando, FL

12 PM

Boston University

1-0

CSU Bakersfield

0-1

Boston U.

CSU Bakersfield

Kasey Ricard is going through the pitching motion from the circle toward home plate

Photo by: Robert Branning

Softball Blanks Cal State Bakersfield, Falls to UCF in Opening Day Split

February 5, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Coach Waters Postgame

ORLANDO, Fla. – Highlighted by senior Kasey Ricard's strong pitching performance and a clutch at-bat from junior Kylie Doherty, the Boston University softball team opened the season with a 3-0 victory over Cal State Bakersfield before suffering a run-rule loss to Black & Gold Classic host UCF Thursday afternoon.

Ricard (1-0) scattered three hits over seven innings with the help of seven strikeouts against the Roadrunners (0-1), and the offense broke the scoreless deadlock in the fifth on a fielding error and Doherty's two-RBI single. During the second contest, the 2025 NCAA Regional finalist Knights (1-0) scored six runs in both the first and fourth innings to run away with a 13-0 (5) decision.

Game 1: BU - 3, CSUB - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

After quickly retiring the side in the top of the first, the Roadrunners put two in scoring position with zero outs on a lead-off double and single, but Ricard earned three consecutive swinging strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.
In the next inning, senior Megan Coyle earned a walk and advanced to second on junior Kyomi Apalit's two-out single before UCF ended the threat on a fly out to left.
CSUB stranded a runner at second in the fourth following a one-out walk and stolen base when Ricard earned back-to-back fly outs.
Freshman Addison Michel led off the fifth with a hit-by-pitch and eventually scored on a fielding error.
BU then loaded the bases via two more hit-by-pitches to set up Doherty's two-RBI single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.
Ricard retired the next seven Roadrunners and then in the seventh after allowing a two-out single earned a shallow foul out to third for the win.

GAME 2: UCF - 13, BU - 0 (5 inn.)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Brooke Deppiesse started the game by earning a lead-off walk and moving to second on sophomore Camryn Lyons' sac bunt, but she ended up stranded at second on two strikeouts.
UCF quickly took the lead on a hit-by-pitch and one-out RBI double against sophomore Danika Nell (0-1).
Nell earned a strikeout during the following at-bat, but the Knights responded with another RBI double and loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and walk.
Kendall Yarnell blew open the game with a grand slam against sophomore Ava Johnson.
After preventing further damage in the first, senior Haley Ganino limited the Knights to just one run until they added six more runs in the fourth on three combined two-RBI hits against her and classmate Olivia DeLong.
Freshman Mary Catherine Stanley helped BU avoid a no-hitter with a one-out single to left in the top of the fourth.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

Besides becoming the fourth Terrier to pitch 30 career shutouts, Ricard collected win No. 75, 11 shy of the program record. She also just needs two more shutouts to set the Patriot League record and three more strikeouts to reach the 700 K milestone.
Freshman Madolyn Coupal delivered BU's lone extra-hit on the day with a double against CSUB and totaled five assists alongside two putouts at shortstop.
Freshmen Irys Kline started both contests, and the three other newcomers in Michel, Stanley and sophomore transfer Cara Edwards all made the debut during the day.
BU won its first ever meeting against the Roadrunners and dropped to 3-1 all-time against the Knights.

LOOKING AHEAD

BU will next continue the Black & Gold Classic against Maryland (9 a.m.) and No. 16/19 Duke (2 p.m.) on Friday (Feb. 6).
The Terrapins own a 4-1 lead in the all-time series after claiming a 3-2 victory in 2016.
The Blue Devils are tied at 1-1 after BU won the first meeting (7-4) in 2018 down in Florida and came up short, 4-2, in 2024 at Duke.