Caitlin Coker (CAS’23), 2021 Patriot League Player of the Year and 2022 Preseason Player of the Year, rounding the bases after hitting a home run on March 23.

Varsity Sports

BU Softball Is Going for a Grand Slam

The goal: a Patriot League title

The BU softball team has won the Patriot League championship three years in a row, and five times since joining the league seven seasons ago. As the trophy chase begins again, the Terriers show no signs of slowing down.

“This year, we’re saying, ‘Together, aim higher,’” head coach Ashley Waters (Wheelock’22) says. “Good, bad, ugly: let’s shoot higher. What we’ve done has been great, but let’s reach beyond that.”

BU opened Patriot League play last weekend with three lopsided wins at Lafayette: 10-2, 8-0, and 10-0. The players know results won’t always be so decisive, but reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Caitlin Coker (CAS’23) says every victory helps build the foundation for something bigger.

“Short-term goals add up to long-term goals,” she says. “We’ve got to win the pitch, win the inning, and win the game. When you keep rolling, you can’t stop.”

Waters breaks down the team’s aspirations to three goals: first, win the regular season to secure home-field advantage in the Patriot League playoffs, second, win the league playoffs to earn a spot in the national tournament, and third, go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the sport on the national stage.

“Our goal is to get better as the year goes on and win when it counts towards the end,” says 2021 Patriot League First-Team honoree Jen Horita (Questrom’21,’22). ”I think that mentality and the team culture that we’ve been able to build throughout the years definitely plays a big role in that.”

Much of the team’s development occurs during the nonconference half of the season, Waters says. The Terriers began 2022 by competing in February and March in five tournaments across the country, emerging with a near-.500 record and valuable experience against other top teams.

“The design of preseason this year was to play those bigger teams consistently and figure out who we are and who we can be,” Waters says. “I think we saw that we can beat some of these teams.”

Morale is high as the Terriers prepare for their Patriot League home opener Saturday. BU swept Merrimack and UMass Lowell in a pair of doubleheaders at the BU Softball Field on March 22 and 23, boosting their home record to 70 wins and 11 losses during Waters’ tenure as head coach.

“The team’s chemistry this year is really great,” Horita says. “Everybody on the team has a great relationship. Being able to call your teammates your friends makes your performance on the field even better.”

Continuity has also been a factor in the team’s success so far this season. BU graduated five players last May, but two—Horita and Marina Sylvestri (COM’21,’22)—elected to remain at BU for a fifth season thanks to the NCAA’s COVID-19 ruling. The two veterans have helped foster a winning culture among their younger teammates.

“They’ve only won championships—they know nothing else,” the coach says. “They make my job easier by the leadership that they have, controlling the team and making sure we’re doing the right things.”

Several other Terrier veterans have contributed to the team’s strong showing. Nicole Amodio (Sargent’22) leads the team in home runs (6) and runs batted in (29), Lauren Keleher (Sargent’24) has hit the most doubles (8), Emily Gant (Sargent’22) has hit the most triples (4), and AJ Huerta-Leipner (CAS’22) is tied with Kayla Roncin (Sargent’24) for the most stolen bases (5).

“I knew offensively we were going to be talented,” Waters says. “There are some really great hitters in our lineup.”

The team has also benefited from the contributions of younger players. After missing most of last season to injury, Roncin, BU’s shortstop, currently leads the Terriers in runs (33), hits (48), batting average (.453), and on-base percentage (.504). From third base, Coker has been impressed by her partner on the left side of the infield.

“She’s always consistent, always dependable, and a great person to play next to,” Coker says. “We definitely missed her a lot last season and are so happy to have her back on the field and in the lineup.”

The Terriers have found able replacements for three-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Year Ali DuBois (ENG’21), who graduated last May, in Lizzy Avery (ENG’23) and Allison Boaz (ENG’23), who both hold earned-run averages under 3, and have 158 combined strikeouts in 197 total innings.

“Lizzy and Allie are both really consistent, really effective pitchers,” Waters says. “They’ve just learned and gotten better and better, and I think the best is yet to come for both of them.”

 With their wealth of talent across the roster yet again, it’s championship or bust for the Terriers. Only one other softball program has ever won the Patriot League four years in a row, and Coker says she and the Terriers are eyeing a four-peat—and another chance to make noise in the NCAA. 

“We want to be able to prove to a larger audience that we’re not the underdogs that people think we are.”

The Terriers will host Bucknell in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2, beginning at noon, then again on Sunday, April 3, for a noon game. The Patriot League playoffs are scheduled for May 12 to 14. Fans can follow along with the team through GoTerriers.com, @TerrierSoftball, and @BUGameDay.