Looking to stay hot, Boston College softball (21-15, 8-3 Atlantic Coast) welcomed New England rival Connecticut (15-25, 2-7 American Athletic) to its new Brighton complex on Wednesday afternoon. Despite the contest being just the Eagles’ second game at their new stadium, they looked right at home at the plate and in the circle. Jessica Dreswick put together another masterful performance, recording a complete game two-hitter, while the Eagles came alive when it mattered most, giving BC a 4-1 win and extending the program’s longest-ever winning streak to 12 games.
UConn managed to threaten in the first inning, despite not recording a hit. Reese Guevarra gave the Huskies their first base runner of the game, booking a free trip to first base with one out. After Dreswick logged her first strikeout of the game, she hit Olivia Sappington with a pitch, putting UConn runners on first and second with two outs. She fought her way out of the jam with her second strikeout of the inning, getting Maura Glatczak to swing through a fastball. The Huskies wouldn’t threaten again until the fifth inning.
The Eagles managed to kickstart their offense in the bottom of the first. With two outs, freshman C.C. Cook once again showcased her speed, reaching base on an infield single to UConn pitcher Jill Stockley. Emme Martinez then delivered a clutch two-out double to left-center field, recording a hit for the fourth-consecutive game, scoring Cook and giving the Eagles the early 1-0 lead.
BC would threaten again in the second. With one out, Carly Severini drew a walk, before Olivia Markopoulos placed down a beautiful bunt single. A Chloe Sharabba hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with two outs, but Stockley got Annie Murphy to fly out to left, ending the Eagles’ threat.
In the fourth, BC plated two more runs, thanks to a little bit of luck. Severini started the rally again with one out when she ended up on second base after a fly ball hit the glove of UConn right fielder Sappington. After Cami Sellers fouled out, the inning appeared to be over when the umpire initially called Allyson Moore out on strikes. Yet, following vocal protest from Eagles head coach Ashley Obrest, it was ruled that Moore’s bat hit the glove of UConn catcher Glatczak, giving Moore first base on catcher’s interference. Once again, it seemed as if BC was bound to return to the dugout empty handed when Sharabba sent a fly ball into right-center field, but the ball bounced off the glove of Guevarra, allowing both runners to score, thereby handing BC a few insurance runs.
UConn finally got to Dreswick in the fifth inning, when Ryne Nakama sent the Huskies’ first hit of the game into the gap in left center field. She advanced on a groundout, before Briana Marcelino drove her in with a sacrifice fly into left, cutting the UConn deficit to 3-1.
Fortunately for the Eagles, they restored their three-run advantage in the bottom of the frame when Cook doubled down the left field line for her second hit of the game. As in the first, Martinez provided a clutch piece of hitting, ripping another double into left-center field, scoring Cook. The Eagles would continue to threaten and managed to put runners on second and third after Jordan Chimento was hit by a pitch and Lexi DiEmmanuele moved both runners over with a well-placed sacrifice bunt. Stockley, however, managed to end the inning with a groundout and a foul out, keeping the lead at three.
Dreswick capped off a great afternoon for the Eagles with a stellar seventh inning. Though she allowed a leadoff single to Carli Cutler, she continued to battle, sandwiching her 10th strikeout between a flyout and a groundout to end the game. Dreswick has now won six-consecutive starts and continues to look like of the best pitchers in the ACC.
The Eagles’ formula of small-ball offense, excellent base running, and dominant pitching has been working extremely well as of late, and the team looks almost unbeatable right now. That said, the real test comes this weekend when BC hosts Atlantic Division leader No. 13 Florida State in a pivotal, season-defining series.
Featured Image by Kaitlin Meeks / Heights Editor
