Coming off two consecutive losses to close out the Florida Gulf Coast Kickoff Classic, Boston College softball headed to Birmingham, Ala. Saturday to begin the Samford Tournament. In the first of two doubleheaders in the two-day tournament, pitching proved to be the linchpin for the Eagles.
Peyton Schnackenberg got the start against Samford (7–3), and Susannah Anderson started against Indiana State (7–2), each playing a full game and shutting out their opponent. BC (7–5) swept the afternoon, defeating Samford 1–0 before defeating Indiana State 2–0.
Against Indiana State, Anderson led the Eagles all game. The right hander struck out the side in the top of the first, setting the momentum for the rest of the game.
The first three innings of the game went scoreless, but the Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. After Abigail Knight doubled to open the inning, Nicole Giery singled up the middle to send Knight home and put BC up 1–0.
BC scored again in the bottom of the fifth, as a single by Hannah Slike sent Erika Andal, who singled earlier in the inning, home.
Andal’s run was BC’s final run of the game, and the Eagles continued to hold Indiana State scoreless through the rest of the contest, led by Anderson’s pitching. Anderson finished with a career high 11 strikeouts Saturday.
With BC up 2–0 heading into the top of the seventh, Anderson struck out the first two batters, and it looked as if the Eagles would seal the deal in an easy one, two, three inning. After the first two strikeouts, though, each of the Sycamores’ next three batters singled to load the bases with two outs.
Anderson then brought Cassie Thomerson to a full count. BC fans held their breath as Thomerson hit a grounder to short, but Djhane Valido was there for the Eagles and threw out Thomerson at first to secure a 2–0 victory for BC.
Earlier in the day, the Eagles defeated Samford 1–0. After five scoreless innings, Giery homered to left center in the top of the sixth, scoring the Eagles’ only run of the game.
Schnackenberg pitched all seven innings against Samford, allowing zero runs and four hits while walking one batter and striking out four. The game marked Schnackenberg’s third win of the season, her first two coming against Memphis and Kent State.
Though the Eagles have seen major contributions from their freshman class this season, namely from Slike and Darien McDonough, BC relied on its veterans Saturday. Anderson and Schnackenberg, both seniors, combined for 14 scoreless innings in the doubleheader, collectively giving up only nine hits and recording 15 total strikeouts.
Featured Image by Kristian Lamarre / Heights Staff
