The Boston University softball team secured a 9-8 win over No. 20/23 Duke in a game that lasted 10 innings on Wednesday at Smith Family Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Terriers, now holding a 5-9 record, achieved six extra-base hits and relied on senior Haley Ganino’s relief pitching to claim the victory.
Senior Megan Coyle contributed significantly with four hits, including two doubles. Junior Kylie Doherty added a two-run home run and drove in the game-winning run with a triple in the top of the tenth inning. Doherty’s performance follows her earlier home run against Duke during their February 4 matchup.
Haley Ganino improved her season record to 2-1 by delivering 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and one walk. Junior Kyomi Apalit tied the game with her first home run of the season, while freshman Irys Kline also recorded a double.
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, Duke took an early lead with a single and two-run homer off BU’s Kasey Ricard. The Terriers responded quickly as Coyle delivered an RBI double before scoring on Doherty’s home run for a brief lead. Duke answered back with four runs off four hits, including two more home runs.
BU kept pace through key contributions from its bullpen and offense. Sophomore Danika Nell entered in relief and retired eight straight batters, helping to limit Duke’s momentum. In later innings, BU loaded the bases and scored through timely hits from Apalit and Kline.
Duke regained the lead late in the game after three consecutive singles and an RBI double put them ahead 8-7. Ganino then entered in relief, ending Duke’s rally with an infield pop up.
Apalit’s home run at the start of the seventh tied the game again, and both teams stranded runners as neither could capitalize through regulation play or into extra innings until Doherty’s decisive triple brought pinch runner Addison Michel across home plate for what proved to be the winning run.
Duke threatened in their final turn at bat but Ganino ended their hopes by inducing a ground out to second base.
“Apalit became the fifth Terrier to earn a home run this season after she totaled three last year.” “With five homers through 14 contests, Doherty owns 25 total, which are tied-for-eighth all-time in the PL record book and fifth alone in the BU record book.” “The Terriers improved to 3-1 all-time against Duke with a 1-1 mark in Durham.”
Looking ahead, Boston University is scheduled to play Northwestern twice over two days beginning Friday at 11 a.m., seeking their first win against that opponent after dropping previous meetings.
