ATHENS, Ga. – Trying to reach its first NCAA Regional Final since 2009, the 25th-ranked and Patriot League champion Boston University softball team had its season ended by No. 24/23 Virginia Tech, 9-0, on Saturday night at Jack Turner Stadium.

With their 12th run-rule victory of the year, the Atlantic Coast Conference's Hokies (39-19) earn a rematch with No. 14 Georgia on Sunday, as the Terriers finished the historic 2023 campaign at 52-10 with a program and conference record in victories. The 52 wins were the most by a NCAA Division I program in the Northeast since UMass had 53 in 2002.

Entering the Regional with an RPI ranking of 24, Virginia Tech started the day with an 8-3 loss to the Bulldogs in the first contest of Saturday's tripleheader and bounced back with nine hits against BU, who sat at No. 37 in the RPI list. The Hokies only led, 1-0, before pulling away with a five spot in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth, as the Terriers tried to carry momentum from their earlier 8-0(6) victory over MEAC champion NC Central.

Junior Lauren Keleher led the BU offense with two hits in the second loss of the weekend to Virginia Tech. Making her first career NCAA start, freshman Kasey Ricard (20-3) went 3.1 innings in the circle with a strikeout. Senior Lizzy Avery pitched an inning, and classmate Allison Boaz recorded the final two outs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Two-time All-Region and All-ACC honoree Kelsey Brown opened the contest with a walk and stolen base to set up Addy Greene's one-out RBI double against Ricard, who prevented further damage with a strikeout.
• BU had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the third when graduate student Nicole Amodio reached first base on a wild pitch.
• In a missed sac bunt attempt, sophomore pinch runner Tyesha Williams was thrown out trying to reach second.
• Junior Lauren Keleher followed with a single through the right side, and classmate Kayla Roncin hit a deep liner to center to end the inning.
• The Hokies then led off the fourth with a solo homer and added a double, pair of walks, RBI sac fly and two more singles to prompt Avery to enter the circle trailing, 4-0.
• With two on and one out, the Hokies added two more runs on a fielding error and then hit into a double play, as Keleher caught a fly ball in center and threw a bullet to senior Audrey Sellers to apply the tag at home.
• Senior Caitlin Coker led off the bottom half with a single but ended up stranded on base alongside freshman Brooke Deppiesse.
• VT moved the game into run-rule territory with three runs off three hits against Avery, including a two-RBI double.
• BU tried to extend the game with Amodio earning a lead-off walk and moving to third following back-to-back singles from Keleher and Roncin.
• The Hokies though made two impressive catches in the outfield to preserve the shutout.

GAME NOTES

• The 2022 PL Scholar-Athlete of the Year and four-time All-PL First Team honoree Amodio ends her career third all-time at BU with 134 RBIs, tied-for-seventh at 21 homers and tied-for-eighth at 74 walks. She also set a program and PL record at 67 career hit-by-pitches to end her tenure with a .419 on-base percentage.
• A four-time All-PL First Team and NFCA All-Region member, graduate student Emily Gant finished sixth all-time at 122 RBIs.
• BU finished with program season records for wins (52), shutouts (24), batting average (.327), fielding percentage (.980), runs scored (341), hits (522), RBIs (304) and strikeouts (404). The 35 triples tied the 1994 squad for most ever.
• Roncin ended the year with the PL Triple Crown, boasting a conference-leading .430 batting average, BU record 55 RBIs and 56 runs (second most in program record book).
• The Terriers were shut out for the second time this season with Mountain West Conference champion San Diego State the last accomplished the feat in a two-game split (2-0, 3-5).
• Eighth-year head coach Ashley Waters finishes the season at 271 wins, tied with Shawn Rychick (2005-12) for the program record.