EASTON, Pa. – Reigning conference champ Boston U. claimed both halves of the Patriot League-opening doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Metzgar Fields. The Terriers used a solo home run in the sixth inning of game one to hold on for an 8-7 final before exploding for 13 hits in a 13-0 ending to game two.
 
In the opener, freshman outfielder Ava Butler drove in six runs, including blasting a three-run home run, while senior Kylee Sweet enjoyed a 3-for-4 stint at the plate.
The first inning was eventful, as Boston U. loaded the bases. Lafayette starter Parker Rowden registered her third strikeout of the inning to quell a potential rally.
 
In the bottom half, the Leopards jumped on Boston U. starter Kasey Ricard for four runs. The big hit was a bases-clearing triple that eluded a diving player in right field and rolled to the wall to score three runs. Maggie Klug brought Butler the rest of the way and chased Ricard from the game.
 
The visitors took their first lead of the afternoon with five runs in the third inning. Brooke Deppiesse delivered a solo home run and Kyomi Apalit and Livia Christopher each contributed two-run singles for the 6-4 lead. BU extended its margin to 7-4 via a two-out RBI-single from Irys Kline.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Leopards got to Terrier reliever Haley Ganino. Three-straight hits deep to centerfield tied the game. Katie Harrington (single) and Sweet (double) set the stage for Butler, who smashed a Ganino offering over the wall in right center to knot the game at 7-7 and force BU to the bullpen again. That move resulted in Danika Nell striking out the next three batters to end the inning.
 
In the sixth, the back-and-forth play continued. Kylie Doherty connected for her 12^th home run of the season to hand the Terriers an 8-7 lead.
 
Nell did the rest of the work, retiring the heart of the Leopard order in succession to end the game. She did not allow a run in three innings with six strikeouts to claim the win. Jordan Goedel, who threw 4.2 innings in relief of Rowden, allowed one earned run on five hits with a pair of K's.
 
In game two, Ricard made up for her early exit in game one, limiting the Leopards to just three hits in a six-inning win. The Terriers' offense staked her to a 3-0 run in the first Doherty's two-run single proved to be enough offense for the afternoon.
 
The game was a low-scoring affair until the sixth inning when the Terriers stretched a 4-0 lead into a 13-0 final. BU plated nine runs on six hits in the frame, while sending 13 batters to the plate.
 
Leopard starter Makayla Lecky took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning. Senior Marisa Powell did the bulk of the pitching, going four innings while surrendering three runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
 
The teams will wrap up the opening weekend of Patriot League play with a single game on Sunday with first pitch slated for 12:05 p.m.