Softball Rides Ricard's Arm to DH Sweep Over No. 16 Duke and Maryland

Friday, February 6

Orlando, FL

9 AM

Boston University

2-1

Maryland

0-1

Boston U.

Maryland

Kasey Ricard lets out a big yell after earning a strikeout against Duke.

Photo by: Jon Rose

Softball Rides Ricard's Arm to DH Sweep Over No. 16 Duke and Maryland

February 6, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Maryland Box (W, 3-0)#16 Duke Box (W, 2-1)Doherty-Ricard Postgame Coach Waters Postgame

ORLANDO, Fla. – Highlighted by senior Kasey Ricard's combined 20 strikeouts and multiple clutch at-bats, the Boston University softball team claimed a doubleheader sweep with victories over No. 16/19 Duke and Maryland at UCF's Black & Gold Classic Friday afternoon.

The Terriers (3-1) first blanked Maryland (0-1), 3-0, and then broke a 1-1 deadlock in the sixth off junior Kylie Doherty's solo homer against No. 16 Duke (2-1). Ricard (3-0) reached multiple milestones, tying the Patriot League career record in shutouts at 31 and eclipsing 700 career strikeouts.

At the plate, senior Brooke Deppiesse went a combined 3-for-7, first earning an RBI single against the Terrapins and then scoring the first run in the second contest of the day to help BU defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2023.

GAME 1: BU - 3, Maryland - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ricard put Maryland on notice in the first inning by earning three straight swinging strikeouts that were followed by two more strikeouts in the second..
BU grabbed the lead for good in the third with a run off two hits and two walks.
Junior Kyomi Apalit led off with a walk, took second on freshman Madolyn Coupal's single up the middle, advanced to third on Deppiesse's single to left and eventually scored on senior Megan Coyle's two-out, bases-loaded RBI walk.
Ricard struck out the side again in the third and kept a Terrapin at first with a two-out swinging strikeout.
Trying to add an insurance run, freshman Addison Michel singled to left to start the fifth and advanced to second on freshman Madolyn Coupal's sac bunt, but Maryland ended the threat with a pair of fly outs.
Maryland had its best look at jumping on the scoreboard in the bottom half by leading off with a single and earning a one-out walk. Ricard maintained the shutout with back-to-back foul outs to left.
The Terriers added two insurance runs in the seventh at two outs with Deppiesse scoring junior Sophie Naivar (BB) on a single toward third and shortly thereafter drawing the Maryland defense into a rundown between first and second to help Apalit reach home for 3-0 lead.
Ricard pitched the 13th strikeout to end the seventh for her second consecutive shutout following identical 3-0 win over Cal State Bakersfield.

GAME 2: BU - 2, #16/19 Duke - 1

HOW IT HAPPENED

After taking a 2+ hour break, Ricard started her third contest of the three-day event and quickly got into a groove with two strikeouts against the Blue Devils.
The Terriers needed little time to jump onto the scoreboard, as Deppiesse singled to left to start the bottom of the first, swiped second and then scored on Naivar's one-out, RBI single to left center.
BU earned a pair of walks in the third with one out but lifted fly outs to center and right.
After D'Auna Jennnings hit a lead-off single and took second on a one-out throwing error during the top of the 5th, Duke tied the game, 1-1, on Tyrina Jones' two-out RBI single to right.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the bases empty and one out, Doherty lined a 1-1 pitch to deep right field for a solo homer and 2-1 lead.
Ricard sealed the victory with two swinging strikeouts.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTES

BU defeated two different Power 4 programs on the same day for the first time since claiming victories over then-No. 13 Georgia and Purdue in 2022.
The Terriers claimed their fifth top-25 ranked win under head coach Ashley Waters and their second with Ricard in the circle after she shut out then-No. 12 Baylor in 2023.
BU defeated its fifth different Big 10 squad under Waters, who now has seven combined victories against the conference after posting two wins over Michigan State alongside a victory against Minnesota in 2024.
Ricard tied the PL record for career shutouts alongside Lehigh's Lisa Sweeney ('09) at 31 total.
The Terriers are now 2-4 all-time against the Terrapins, avenging a 3-2 loss back in 2016 following a 1-0 win in 2012.
BU retook the series lead against the Blue Devils, 2-1, following a 7-4(8) win in 2018 and 4-2 loss at Duke in 2022.

UP NEXT

The Terriers will conclude their time in Orlando by facing off against Buffalo on Saturday (Feb. 7) at 9 a.m.
The Bulls lead the all-time series, 3-2, after the Terriers swept a doubleheader (9-0, 7-0) and dropped the third meeting (1-0) in Tampa, Florida, back in 2007. Buffalo won the first two contests played a year prior in 2006 (7-4, 9-4).