Boston College Athletics
Weekly Countdown: Two Goals
January 27, 2017 | Softball
Eagles put NCAA Tournament, ACC title on their radar
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – When the Boston College softball team recruited Tatiana Cortez, she could tell the Eagles were building something great.
Cortez was a senior catcher and third baseman at Westside High School in Houston in 2012. The Eagles went 15-31 in 2011. In Ashley Obrest's first year as head coach in 2012, BC improved to 23-30.
"I just saw a big rise in the team and recruits that were coming," said Cortez, now a BC senior. "With Ashley being a new coach, I just knew the team was going to be on the rise."
The commitment to BC has paid off for Obrest'srecruits. The current roster has only experienced winning seasons at the Heights, as the Eagles have finished above .500 in each of the last three seasons– 30-23 in 2014, 27-24 in 2015 and 30-23 last year.
The Eagles return most of their pitching staff and all but two starters from last year's lineup. They also added six freshmen. The experience and depth puts two primary goals on BC's radar: win their first ACC title and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003.
Last year's team (30-23, 12-9 ACC) finished fourth in conference play. The Eagles' 12-9 ACC record was their best since joining the conference before the 2006 season. BC scored 233 runs – 4.4 per game – which is the second-best total in team history. The Eagles' 2.83 ERA was the third-best in the ACC.Â
The players emphasize the team's family atmosphere. The chemistry and roster continuity gives every unit on the squad potential to improve.
"One thing that really helped us last year is we really became a staff," junior righthander AllysonÂ
BC meets tough competition along the way each season. At least four ACC teams have made the NCAA Tournament every year since 2002. Among those teams, Florida State has made two of the last three Women's College World Series.
The Eagles embrace their consistently challenging schedules. They faced Women's College World Series finalist Auburn twice last season. Among their other tough non-conference opponents, Georgia made the College World Series and Fresno State finished last season ranked 17th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Eagles took their 4-3 loss against the Bulldogs to the 10th inning.
"Facing teams like that and teams who made the Women's College World Series is incredible," said junior outfielder Annie Murphy. "It brings a certain intensity when you play teams like that."
Tough non-conference competition in BC's upcoming schedule includes the Feb. 18  game at Arizona (21st in last year's final rankings) and the March 8 contest at South Florida (24th in last season's final rankings).
No matter the opponent though, the Eagles will treat each game as a step toward their goals.
"We treat each team like they're our biggest competitor out there," Cortez said. "We treat each game like it's the ACC Championship."
Check out the weekly countdown every Friday until the season begins on Feb. 10 against Wichita State at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational.
