As Darien McDonough stepped up to the plate in Boston College softball’s season opener for her first collegiate at-bat, the Eagles led by three in the top of the first. McDonough didn’t let BC’s scoring run stop there, knocking in a two-run homer in her first career at-bat.
BC (1–0) defeated Long Island (0–4) by a final score of 9–1 in five-inning, mercy-rule win.
McDonough’s home run put the Eagles up by five in the top of the first after Hannah Slike singled, bringing in two runs. Nicole Giery stole home during McDonough’s at-bat to give the Eagles a 3–0 lead.
BC gave up its only run of the day in the bottom of the first, as Long Island’s Kiana Cisneros singled up the middle with two players on base, sending Maya Avila home for the Sharks’ first run of the night.
BC responded in the second, scoring three of its final four runs of the game.
After Ellie Mataya doubled to right center and advanced to third on an Elisabeth Laviolette groundout, Mataya scored on a wild pitch. Giery followed with a double and scored when Slike singled to right field for her third RBI of the night.
McDonough then doubled to right center to send Slike home, bringing in her third RBI as well.
The Sharks went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the second after Alexis Toledo lined out, and BC right hander Abby Dunning struck out Katie Hinkle and Avila.
In the top of the third, Mataya recorded her second double of the night and scored on a single from Laviolette.
Mataya’s run was the last of the contest, and head coach Amy Kvilhaug rotated in a number of players in the final innings.
Dunning, a freshman, pitched all five innings for the Eagles, recording eight strikeouts on 102 pitches. Dunning allowed four hits and one run in her first collegiate game.
Only one BC player struck out against three different Long Island pitchers.
Featured Image by Ikram Ali / Heights Senior Staff
