FORT MYERS, Fla. – A four-run top of the seventh inning for Boston University allowed the Terriers to keep their regular season win streak alive as Florida Gulf Coast University softball fell 6-4 on Sunday.
"Our team played well against one of the best teams in the country," FGCU head coach
David Deiros said. "Sparky once again came out strong for us all weekend. Maddox and Ana were exceptional. Maddox came up big for us in the first inning today, and Ana has been providing some power for us in the middle of our lineup."
The Eagles (3-3) started the game fast with three runs in the first.
Avery Viancos worked a leadoff walk on five pitches.
Tiffany Meek laced a ball to right field, and
Nikki Gibson reached on an infield single to load the bases.
Maddox Thomas stepped up to the plate and worked the count to 3-1 before putting a jolt into the ball over the shortstop shifted toward second base for a two-run single, chasing the starter for BU (5-0) after recording just one out.
In the next at-bat,
Emily Chiarella placed a ball down the left field line to bring home Gibson and rounded out the three-run inning.
The game turned into a pitching duel from there as
Allison Sparkman and Kasey Ricard, two of the highest-ranked pitchers in the country, were now in the circle.
For the next three innings, each team could only muster two hits each with the pitching clinic Sparkman and Ricard were putting on.
The Terriers would scratch one across in the sixth to bring the score to 3-2. FGCU would not answer in the bottom half of the inning, bringing BU up with one more chance to get ahead and salvage their 27-game regular season unbeaten streak.
The Eagles recorded two outs to start the seventh with a streak-snapping win seeming to be within reach.
BU had two runners on when they brought in a pinch hitter who singled to center to bring the game level at three. Three more runs would come across, capped off with a bases-clearing triple, to bring the score to 6-3.
Maria Angelino was leading off the bottom of the seventh, looking to set the table for the Eagles. She worked an eight-pitch walk, bringing her average pitches per at-bat on the day to seven. Angelino was pinch ran for before
Olivia Black reached on a fielder's choice.
Tiffany Meek stepped up to the plate and pelted a ball to right field. She was initially ruled out running to second, but obstruction was ruled as she was rounding first to allow her to reach second safely while Black scored on the play.
That was the end of the offensive threat for the Eagles, with the game ending 6-4.
The Green and Blue head up to Tampa, Florida, for a midweek doubleheader against USF before returning home for the FGCU Invitational from Feb. 14-16. Tickets are good for the whole day and can be purchased using the link above.
