Boston College
Providence
Softball Powers Way to Doubleheader Sweep of Providence
April 07, 2009 | Softball
April 7, 2009
Amy Tunstall hit two of the Eagles' five home runs to help the Boston College softball team (14-20, 1-5 ACC) to a doubleheader sweep of Providence this afternoon at Shea Field.
Tunstall went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBIs on the afternoon, leading the BC offense in wins of 3-0, and 7-1, over the Friars.
BC-3, Providence-0 - Morgan Kidd got the start for the Eagles and cruised through the first three innings, allowing two hits and striking out four batters before being replaced by Taylor Peyton (8-9).
Meanwhile, the Eagles offense threatened in the bottom of the second inning after Blair Destito walked and stole second, and Alison Kooistra reached on an error, putting runners on first and third with one out. After Kooistra stole second base, Katrina Vasquez hit a groundball to the pitcher and was thrown out at first, and on the same play, Kooistra was tagged out at second base to end the rally.
Peyton escaped a jam in the top of the fifth inning after the first two Providence batters got on base with a single and a walk. The junior retired the next three Friars hitters on a strike out, and two groundouts to end the inning.
The BC offense went to work in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Brittany Wilkins walked to start the inning, and two batters later, Dani Weir reached on an error to put runners at first and second base with one out. The next batter, Amy Tunstall, hit her first home run of the afternoon, over the left field wall, to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
That would be all the offense needed for Morgan Kidd, who returned to the game to close out the final two innings for her second save of the year.
BC-7, Providence-1 - Allison Gage (5-8) pitched her seventh complete game of the season, aided by an Eagles' offense that supported her effort with four home runs in the contest.
After the Friars scored an early run off Gage in the top of the first inning, BC responded in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs, Dani Weir walked, bringing up Amy Tunstall. The junior connected on her second home run of the day and fourth of the season, a line drive over the left field wall to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
The Eagles used the long ball again to stretch the lead further in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Dani Weir hit her team-leading sixth home run of the year, an opposite field shot over the right field wall to put BC up 3-1. After Tunstall walked, Gemma Ypparila connected on her first home run of the year to put the Eagles up 5-1.
Carolyn Jones added a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning, her second of the season, and Alison Kooistra increased the lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning to put BC up 7-1.
The run support was enough for Gage, who pitched 7.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits and one walk, while striking out three batters.
The Eagles will conclude a six game home stand when they take on No. 22 Massachusetts tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
