Boston College softball got out to a rocky start to its home season with a 5–3 loss to Virginia on Friday.
The Eagles (14–12, 2–5 Atlantic Coast) failed to mount a late comeback and left two runners on base in the seventh inning, handing the Cavaliers (19–12, 6–1) the win in the teams’ first game of a three-game series.
“I don’t think we came out as sharp as we have been coming out,” BC head coach Amy Kvilhaug said after the game.
Susannah Anderson pitched the first 6.1 innings for the Eagles, striking out five batters.
After going down by two runs early, the Eagles started their comeback in the bottom of the second. Djhane Valido reached first on an error by Virginia’s Sarah Coon and then stole second. A double to center field by Kennedy Labshere sent Valido home for the Eagles’ first run of the game.
In the next at-bat, Gianna Boccagno grounded out to second but advanced Labshere to third. Kamryn Warman reached on a fielder’s choice, but Virginia threw out Maddy Carpe—pinch running for Labshere—at home. Warman advanced to second, but Ellie Mataya struck out, leaving the Eagles with one runner left on base, and the inning ended with Virginia up 2–1.
The tying play came in the fourth inning. Darien McDonough hit a single to second base but was called out after leaving first early on an attempted steal. In the next at-bat, Valido grounded to first base and then was called for interference.
But on the third at-bat of the inning, Labshere doubled to left field with two outs. She scored the Eagles’ second run after Boccagno reached first on an error by Cavalier shortstop Katie Goldberg and advanced to second on the throw.
With one out in the seventh, Peyton Schnackenberg replaced Anderson at pitcher. After Schnackenberg took the mound, the Cavaliers scored three more runs off a two-run double from Gabby Baylog and a sacrifice fly from Leah Boggs, putting them up 5–2 over BC.
Boccagno hit a homer to center field in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Eagles’ deficit to two, but with Mataya on second and Hannah Silke on first, Abigail Knight lined out to third base, ending the game.
The Eagles will face Virginia two more times in the weekend series and Kvilhaug said she hopes BC can make adjustments in all facets of its game.
Featured Image by Molly Bruns / Heights Staff
