The Eagles struck early in the first inning behind strong small-ball play, thanks to a sacrifice fly from catcher Hannah Slike and a single up the middle from Emma Jackson that scored Gator Robinson after her leadoff walk.
In a tight battle, Boston College Softball (10–5) bested the San Jose State Spartans (9–12) to push its win streak to five games.
BC starting pitcher Kelly Colleran, though, found herself in trouble early in her outing, as strategic bunting and aggressive baserunning from the Spartans knotted the game at one.
Colleran’s day would end shortly after, as command issues led to her issuing three consecutive walks, bringing rookie pitcher Bailey Kendziorski into the game.
But Kendziorski would limit the damage, escaping the inning by way of a strikeout.
San Jose State starting pitcher Lacie Ham pitched a strong top of the second inning to limit BC’s offense, sending the Eagles down 1-2-3 through a strikeout, a popout, and a groundout.
Kendziorski, though giving up a leadoff single, stayed composed in the circle and kept the game tied.
To open the third, Kali Case beat out a throw at first to earn the Eagles’ second hit and third base runner of the game. Case, after advancing on a sacrifice hit from Robinson, capitalized on a San Jose State error at third to reach home plate, reclaiming the lead for BC.
The Spartans would waste no time at the plate in the bottom of the third. Quickly, they found themselves with runners at the corners off two singles and with only one out.
And while it appeared that the Eagles would escape unscathed, a throwing error from Robinson allowed the runner on third to score, tying the game at two.
A strikeout by Kendziorski and an impressive defensive play at third by Janis Espinoza, though, kept the game even heading into the fourth.
Ham once again sent the Eagles down in order via three consecutive pop-outs at the top of the forth.
Following an intense nine-pitch battle at the plate, Taylor Chillingworth sent a towering shot to the outfield wall, allowing her to reach third on a stand-up triple. A sacrifice fly deep into the outfield enabled Chillingworth to score, giving the Spartans their first lead of the game.
BC’s defense, though, again limited the damage, sending the game into the fifth inning with a one-run deficit.
Kendziorski answered with a 1-2-3 inning of her own in the bottom of the fifth.
The Eagles, desperate for an answer on offense, finally figured out pitcher Lacie Ham after a single from Slike got BC their first base runner since the third inning, knocking Ham out of the game.
BC’s offense ignited at just the right time, as a line-drive single into right field from Stephens scored Slike to tie the game, and a well-placed bunt from pinch-hitter Makenna Segal gave the Eagles a 4–3 lead.
The Spartan collapse continued as defensive miscommunication in the outfield allowed an Abby Ptak popup to drop, earning her first collegiate hit and pushing BC’s lead to two runs.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Kendziorski would need to fend off a San Jose State offense looking for a strong response to the Eagle’s offensive explosion.
And BC got exactly what they needed, as Kendziorski would allow two baserunners off singles, but no runners crossed home, and the lead remained at two.
The Eagles’ bats went quiet again in the top of the seventh, getting only one baserunner via a Robinson walk, meaning Kendziorski found herself back in the circle to close out the win for BC.
Just as quickly as San Jose State swung, Kendziorski was just as quick to get them out, allowing only one baserunner and sealing the win for the Eagles.
