Boston College’s softball learned last year that progress isn’t always linear.
After finishing the 2022 season with seven more wins than the previous year and improving to a 20–27 record, some expected 2023 would be the year for the team to obtain a winning record for the first time since 2018, especially after starting its season 4–1.
But, the Eagles finished the 2023 season 24–28, with the same 6–18 conference record they held in 2022. And unlike 2022, which saw three Eagles earning All-ACC honors, 2023 saw no Eagles receive these honors. Despite these setbacks, 2023 marked the second straight year of visible improvement for BC led by head coach Amy Kvilhaug.
BC begins its season on Feb. 8th in Fort Myers, Fla. at the FGCU tournament, where the Eagles will open play against Florida Gulf Coast. With 55 games remaining, the Eagles will seek the winning record that has eluded them for five years. To do that, Kvilhaug said she had to look within and mix it up.
Kvilhaug said she wanted to “take this program to the next level,” and asked players for their input on how that goal can be accomplished.
“A lot of the feedback was centered around, ‘We wanna have more connections with the coaching staff, we wanna have a servant leadership style of a program, where the freshmen are carrying all the equipment,’ and that sort of thing.” Kvilhaug said.
Kvilhaug emphasized her belief that BC will be different this year.
“We are going to play a quicker game … You’re going to see a cohesive unit,” Kvilhaug said. “You’re going to see a lot of really good stuff from BC softball in the spring of 2024.”
Departures:
Graduate pitcher and captain Susannah Anderson marks the most notable departure from last year’s team, who posted a 5.53 ERA in 22 games started last year. Anderson earned third-team All-ACC honors during the 2022 season.
“Anytime you lose someone with this type of ability and experience and leadership, it’s definitely different, but different is not bad,” Kvilhaug said. “Everytime a door closes, a chapter ends, there is a new chapter and there’s new opportunities.”
BC also said goodbye to six seniors—utility player Abigail Knight, catcher and outfielder Maddy Carpe, shortstop and second baseman Gianna Sarlo, shortstop and third baseman Djhane Valido, outfielder Mia Bueno, and third baseman and first baseman AJ Alatorre.
Knight and Sarlo transferred to UNC Charlotte and Fordham, respectively, to continue their playing careers in 2024. Carpe was recently hired as an assistant coach at Harvard.
With Knight and Carpe exiting, the Eagles will lose a combined 69 hits and eight home runs, leaving a major offensive void.
Also departing the team are graduate pitcher Sofia Earle and senior Erika Andal. Earle posted a 5.18 ERA in 19 appearances, while Andal had 32 hits and posted a .256 batting percentage.
Returners/Acquisitions:
Among returning players, two players stand out from the rest. Catcher Hannah Slike, who earned All-Freshman honors as a freshman during the 2022 season, returns to boost both the offense and defense. Silke posted a .263 average, with 46 hits and seven home runs to lead the team last year. Defensively, Slike only recorded one error and a fielding percentage of .992.
“Hannah’s play and her leadership are gonna be huge … she’s got one of the highest game IQs on the team,” Kvilhaug said.
The other key returner, Abby Dunning, was the Eagles’ best pitcher last year, boasting a 3.7 ERA and 13–11 record. Both return as juniors to lead the Eagles.
“I have Abby Dunning who’s returning, who had a great season last year,” Kvilhaug said. “She is just on the verge of a breakout season … Just the other day at practice she hit 70 on the gun six times in our live session, that’s pretty freaking good.”
BC welcomes a class of six freshmen—outfielder Tannis Jackin, infielder Gator Robinson, right-hand pitcher Addison Jackson, and utility players Sammy Horn and Katelyn Deguire.
“For the freshman class, you’re gonna see Emma Jackson and Gator Robinson,” Kvilhaug said. “Emma will be at second, Gator will be at short.”
BC also welcomes outfielder Jordan Stephens and first baseman Makenna Segal, transfers from Alabama and Ole Miss, respectively.
“Jordan Stephans is vying for a spot in the outfield,” Kvilhaug said. “Makenna is vying for a spot at first base or DP. We’ve got two kids who’ve played in high level conferences, high level softball coming here to contribute.”
Schedule:
The Eagles open their season with three consecutive tournaments, all hosted in Florida. After opening with five contests at the FGCU tournament, BC will compete in the USF tournament, then the FAU tournament.
BC begins ACC play on March 1 at Virginia and plays its home opener on March 12 against Stonehill. After playing in the Eagle Round Robin with Holy Cross, Iona, and Quinnipiac, the Eagles begin their toughest stretch of play, beginning with a contest against Maine. The Eagles will go on to face multiple tough ACC programs including No. 7 Clemson, No. 23 Virginia Tech, and No. 4 Florida State.
Despite a tough road to the ACC tournament, Kvilhaug is optimistic that a bright future lies ahead for the Eagles and she said she knows the work it will take to achieve their goals.
“Our goal this season as a team is to make the ACC tournament … Our kids believe that they can be a NCAA tournament team,” Kvilhaug said. “They really do, and so do I. If we wanna do that, we gotta play well against these [ACC] teams, and we gotta win the series. We’ve gotta take games where we may be the underdog.”
